Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pharmacist Medicaid Reimbursement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Discussion only: bill would let Kentucky Medicaid reimburse pharmacists for clinical services
Summary
Representative Amy Neighbors presented House Bill 3 for discussion; the measure would recognize pharmacists as Medicaid providers and authorize reimbursement for clinical services already provided, aligning Medicaid with existing commercial-insurance requirements. Committee heard supportive testimony but no vote was taken.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — House Bill 3, presented for discussion only on Oct. 12 to the House Standing Committee on Banking and Insurance, would recognize pharmacists as providers under Kentucky Medicaid and allow reimbursement for clinical services pharmacists already provide, sponsors and witnesses said.
Representative Amy Neighbors, sponsor, said the bill does not expand pharmacists’ scope of practice or require Medicaid to cover new services; it would align Medicaid with a 2021 law (House Bill 48) that requires commercial insurers to reimburse pharmacists at the same rate as other nonphysician providers for the same clinical services. Ben Mudd, executive director of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association, testified that the bill corrects an “imbalance” that leaves Medicaid patients unable to receive reimbursed pharmacist-provided services that private patients can access.
Witnesses cited data showing pharmacists are often the most accessible health professionals and argued that reimbursing pharmacists for services such as point-of-care testing, tobacco-cessation counseling and chronic-disease management could reduce preventable hospitalizations and emergency-room visits. The Kentucky Pharmacists Association noted that 36 states have some Medicaid payment for pharmacist services; witnesses cited studies estimating savings from pharmacist-led services but did not present state-specific budget estimates for Kentucky.
House Minority Leader Representative Rudy expressed strong support for the policy in principle but cautioned that state Medicaid budget pressures and pending budget-related proposals will likely affect the bill’s timing. He said the measure is a priority of the majority caucus but might be slated for a later year because of current Medicaid budget constraints. The committee held the item for discussion; no motion or vote occurred.
