Call to Order and Roll Call
The 3rd meeting of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue was held on<Day> Monday, September 19, 2016, at 10:00 AM, in Room 149 of the Capitol Annex. Representative Joni L. Jenkins, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Representative Joni L. Jenkins, Co-Chair; Senator Carroll Gibson; Representatives George Brown Jr., Tom Burch, Mary Lou Marzian, Donna Mayfield, and Addia Wuchner.
Guests: Angie Maddox, Constituent; Stephen Miller, Commissioner, Department for Medicaid Services, Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS); Adam Meier, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Office of the Governor; and Deck Decker, Executive Director, Office of Administrative and Technology Services, CHFS.
LRC Staff: Miriam Fordham, Jonathan Eakin, and Benjamin Thompson.
Benefind
Ms. Maddox provided testimony on the struggles her family has had with transitioning to Benefind.
In response to questions from Rep. Burch, Ms. Maddox noted that while services for her child have resumed, it took around six months to get all issues worked out.
In response to questions from Chair Jenkins, Mr. Decker stated that any erroneous letters sent out in the early days of Benefind should be corrected. Mr. Decker also noted that open-enrollment would not be affected by issues with Benefind.
In response to questions from Rep. Wuchner, Mr. Decker stated that the cabinet would have continued to pay the $1.5 million per month that it cost the state to not roll out Benefind had any problems been anticipated. Mr. Decker said he was unsure whether people who had been affected by Benefind problems had received an apology.
Update on Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver Application
Commissioner Miller and Mr. Meier presented an update on the details and status of the Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver, otherwise known as Kentucky HEALTH.
In response to a question from Rep. Brown, Commissioner Miller noted that, if someone on the Kentucky HEALTH waiver received a General Education Development degree (GED), then the cost of the GED test would be covered by the plan. The individuals would also receive some funds in the "My Rewards" account.
In response to questions from Rep. Marzian, Mr. Meier stated that the administration was focused on "Plan A," but negotiations with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are ongoing.
In response to a question from Rep. Brown, Mr. Meier said that nothing will change for those whom the waiver might affect during negotiations with CMS.
In response to a question from Chair Jenkins, Mr. Meier stated that the waiver filed by Ohio, which was denied by CMS, had a lockout period that could encompass anyone regardless of level of income. The waiver Kentucky submitted only allows a lockout for failure to pay premiums if the member makes more than 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Commissioner Miller confirmed that the federal comment period for the waiver application would last until October 8, 2016.
In response to a question from Rep. Wuchner, Mr. Meier stated that it is possible that Kentucky HEALTH will not be implemented for a year even if the waiver is approved by CMS.
In response to questions from Chair Jenkins, Commissioner Miller noted that with the update to the Section 1115 Waiver, there was little change in the number of people expected to transition from Medicaid to private insurance. Commissioner Miller stated that CHFS meets with the managed care organizations (MCOs) on a monthly basis and that the current contract runs through the end of 2016.
There being no further business before the subcommittee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 AM.