Kentucky received the go-ahead to create a new Medicaid program after CMS granted initial approval of the state’s Medicaid waiver on Wednesday. “The Medicaid program as it exists today is simply unsustainable. We have a responsibility to ensure that Medicaid will be available to provide health care for current and future generations of Kentuckians,” said Governor Ernie Fletcher.
As a state with one of the highest percentages of people living below the poverty level and more than 15% on Medicaid, Kentucky expects its new program, KyHeath Choices, to stretch available resources by requiring Medicaid members to be responsible for their own health care. The program will require co-payments and premiums, except for preventive services, and offer financial incentives to Medicaid beneficiaries—to be used for gym memberships, smoking-cessation programs or other non-covered health services—if they engage in healthy practices, such as following disease-management protocols. Any Medicaid member who has access to private insurance will be required to enroll, and KyHealth Choices will pay the premiums.
