Post by Logan on Jul 5, 2016 6:56:51 GMT -6
Gov. Matt Bevin's week-old proposal to overhaul the state Medicaid program already is under fire from critics, who say it will cut benefits and reduce health care for some of Kentucky's poorest citizens.
But a team of officials promoting Bevin's plan on Thursday told a group of health executives that they are confident of winning the required federal approval for a "waiver" to enact changes that the governor pledges will transform the $10 billion-a-year federal-state health plan that serves nearly one-third of the state's citizens.
"We're continuing to negotiate in good faith," Adam Meier, Bevin's deputy chief of staff, said at a 90-minute forum hosted by the Health Enterprises Network. "We're pretty confident they'll approve our waiver or something pretty close to it."
Mark Birdwhistell, a former Kentucky health secretary whom Bevin has called the architect of his Medicaid proposal, said "high-level" federal officials have been in direct contact with the Bevin administration and seem anxious to "solidify" a plan, given the national attention Kentucky has drawn for its successes under the federal health law known as Obamacare.
Read moe: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/30/state-feds-likely-ok-ky-medicaid-changes/86544706/
But a team of officials promoting Bevin's plan on Thursday told a group of health executives that they are confident of winning the required federal approval for a "waiver" to enact changes that the governor pledges will transform the $10 billion-a-year federal-state health plan that serves nearly one-third of the state's citizens.
"We're continuing to negotiate in good faith," Adam Meier, Bevin's deputy chief of staff, said at a 90-minute forum hosted by the Health Enterprises Network. "We're pretty confident they'll approve our waiver or something pretty close to it."
Mark Birdwhistell, a former Kentucky health secretary whom Bevin has called the architect of his Medicaid proposal, said "high-level" federal officials have been in direct contact with the Bevin administration and seem anxious to "solidify" a plan, given the national attention Kentucky has drawn for its successes under the federal health law known as Obamacare.
Read moe: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/30/state-feds-likely-ok-ky-medicaid-changes/86544706/