Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pharmacist Medicaid Reimbursement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee hears discussion on bill to reimburse pharmacists for clinical services under Medicaid
Summary
Representative Amy Neighbors and the Kentucky Pharmacists Association presented House Bill 3 to recognize pharmacists as Medicaid providers for covered clinical services; the measure was discussed but not voted on, and the House leader said timing may delay committee action.
Representative Amy Neighbors brought House Bill 3 before the House Banking and Insurance Committee for discussion only. She said the bill would recognize pharmacists as providers under Kentucky Medicaid and allow pharmacists to be reimbursed for clinical services Medicaid already covers when provided by other non‑physician practitioners.
"Pharmacists are among the most accessible health care professionals in our communities," Representative Neighbors told the committee. She said HB 3 “does not expand the scope of pharmacy practice or require Medicaid to cover any new services” but aligns Medicaid with a 2021 change (House Bill 48) that requires commercial insurers to reimburse pharmacists at parity with other non‑physician providers for the same services.
Ben Mudd, executive director of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association, told the committee pharmacists provide testing and treatment under board‑authorized protocols and assist in chronic disease management. Mudd said Kentucky has 36 other states that reimburse pharmacists through Medicaid and cited evidence, as presented to the committee, that pharmacist‑led services can generate savings (the testimony stated a $4.40 return for every $1 spent in pharmacist‑led services in aggregate studies) and improve outcomes for chronic conditions such as diabetes.
Leader Derrick Rudy (House Republican leader), participating in the discussion, praised the proposal but cautioned that larger Medicaid budget pressures could delay action. Rudy said Medicaid’s budget growth is a major concern and that while HB 3 may save money over time, the proposal “would possibly and probably save money in the long term” but could be considered an expansion of Medicaid in the current fiscal environment. He said the bill remains a priority of the majority caucus but may be scheduled for later consideration.
The committee made no motion on HB 3 during the meeting; the item was recorded as discussion only. Representative Neighbors and the Kentucky Pharmacists Association urged committee members to support the measure in future consideration.
Ending: The committee closed the agenda after the discussion; no committee vote was taken on HB 3. The bill may return for committee action later in the session as lawmakers balance Medicaid budget and policy priorities.
