Kentucky

Kentucky State Patient Advocate Day - April 4th, 2010

Governor Steve Beshear signed a proclamation declaring April 4th, 2010, Kentucky Patient Advocate Day! The proclamation is part of a national initiative by the National Patient Advocate Foundation to celebrate patient advocacy and affirms a state's commitment to stand in voice and action as an advocate for the patient. Kentucky State Policy Liaisons, Jim Meade and Col. Luke Barlow with NPAF, promoted the initiative with the Governor on behalf of Kentucky's patient poplulation.

View Proclamation

ON OUR RADAR

On March 24th, 2010, Governor Steve Beshear signed S.B. 18 into law which requires coverage for routine patient healthcare costs incurred as part of a cancer clinical trial.

Clinical Trials Bill

****

BESHEAR ANNOUNCES PLAN TO ENROLL MORE CHILDREN IN HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM

Sept 3, 2008 - Gov. Beshear outlined an ambitious plan to get as many children as possible enrolled in the Kentucky Children's health Insurance Program (KCHIP) by 2010

Effective November 1, 2008 The Beshear Plan intends to dramatically cut the number of children without health coverage by removing barriers to enrollment, retaining more children once they are enrolled and significantly increasing education and outreach regarding the program. The plan hopes to enroll over 35,000 by FY 2010. KCHIP provides health insurance to children whose family income is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, about $42,400 a year for a family of four.

Beshear unveiled plans to enroll eligible children in KCHIP via the following:

Simplifying the enrollment process
Increasing retention efforts
Increasing outreach

KCHIP Plan

SB 96/HB 162 - requires health benefit plans to provide coverage for colorectal cancer screenings. SB 96 was signed by the Governor on April 15, 2008.

HB 415 - creates a colon cancer screening program for the uninsured, as well as an accompanying education campaign. (Nearly 500,000 Kentuckians have no insurance and are therefore less likely to get screened without this type of legislation in place.) HB 415 is not currently funded, but will establish an infrastructure for accepting federal and state funds when the budget outlook is positive. HB 415 was signed by the Governor on April 15, 2008.

H.C.R. 117 - Urged the Kentucky Congressional Delegation to ensure that the Congress reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
NPAF Action: Issued NPAF statement for SPL submission to bill sponsor
Read NPAF Statement regarding H.C.R. 117