Home » Health coalition invites public to learn about, comment on Medicaid proposal

Health coalition invites public to learn about, comment on Medicaid proposal

382eefca-a5b6-4930-9ea6-cc338b9ad379A coalition of health care advocates will host a handful of forums statewide in order to inform communities and get their feedback about the proposed Medicaid waiver, the Keep Kentucky Covered coalition announced.

As part of the federal comment period, as well as an effort to get input from communities left out of the state’s comment period, the coalition is hosting eight community forums starting Sept. 26 through Oct. 6.

Each forum will feature a brief educational presentation about proposed changes in costs, covered services and what Kentuckians must do to get and renew Medicaid coverage — including changes for adults, pregnant women and children. After the presentation, Kentuckians will be able to ask questions and speak up about how the plan will affect them, their families and their communities.

Gov. Bevin has submitted his proposed plan for Medicaid, called KentuckyHEALTH, to the federal government for review.

“Federal regulators need to hear directly from Kentuckians,” says Emily Beauregard, Executive Director of Kentucky Voices for Health. “And Kentuckians need to understand how these changes might affect people on Medicaid, their friends, their family members, medical providers and the community as a whole.”

The Keep Kentucky Covered Coalition is made up of several advocacy organizations, notably Kentucky Voices for Health, the Kentucky Equal Justice Center and the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

Kentucky held three hearings on an earlier version of the plan in June and July, one each in Bowling Green, Frankfort and Hazard. The federal government now has opened a comment period of its own.

“We’re reaching out to a larger portion of the state, in hopes of educating people on what these changes really look like,” said Richard Seckel, Executive Director of Kentucky Equal Justice Center.

“KentuckyHEALTH has the potential to impact a number of Kentuckians,” said Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. “People deserve to have their questions answered and their opinions heard.”

Please join us to get the facts on the KentuckyHEALTH proposal, to ask questions, and submit your comments. Here is list of all forum times, dates, and locations.