Crimes against children, Medicaid oversight, chemical dependency treatment, preventive screenings, first responders

Toughening Penalties for Crimes Against Children/HB 278 would work to increase penalties for offenses, prevent opportunities for predators to be near children, and remove barriers for victims to receive justice. The main goal of the measure is to generate a zero-tolerance policy towards those who choose to exploit children. Protecting children from exploitation is paramount to ensuring their well-being, development, and mental health.

Establishing the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board/HB 316 would establish the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board of the Kentucky General Assembly. The budget approved by the House several weeks ago contains record funding for Medicaid and other entitlement programs. And, while we know these programs play an important role in supporting Kentuckians in a time of need, we also have an obligation to ensure that they result in healthier individuals. We also must recognize that for most Kentuckians, they are designed to be temporary, not a permanent way of life. The board would be tasked with reviewing, analyzing, studying, evaluating, and providing legislative oversight to ensure Medicaid meets these goals.

Regulating Chemical Dependency Treatment Services/HB 408 would establish a framework to prevent rehabilitations from recruiting out-of-state residents, bringing them to their facility and putting them on Kentucky Medicaid. The measure lays out a process to ensure residents of a drug treatment programs are returned to their home community upon leaving the facility.

Prioritizing Mental Health of First Responders/HB 212 would allow rescue squad members to participate in the Alan “Chip” Terry Professional Development and Wellness Program. The program is named after former Covington Firefighter Chip Terry. The measure would direct the Division of Emergency Management and the Kentucky Fire Commission to enter into an agreement to ensure that rescue squad members have access to the program. This is another small but important step in the fight for more protections of our first responders, especially those dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Establishing Sepsis Diagnosis Criteria/HB 477 would expand preventative screenings for sepsis. The measure would call for providers to do a blood culture upon a positive test. Additionally, HB 477 aligns Medicaid and Medicare standards with each other, ensuring all stages of sepsis are covered under insurance. Kentucky has one of the highest rates of sepsis and septicemia in our nation. More than 35,000 Kentuckians are hospitalized with sepsis each year, and on average, almost 17% of patients will die from severe sepsis and septic shock with an estimated cost of over $2.3 billion. Every hour without intervention increases the risk of death by 7%. Health care providers must treat patients for sepsis before it reaches the level of organ failure.

Covering Cancer Detection Screenings/HB 52 would require Medicaid, health plans (both state employees and student), and group health plans to extend coverage for specific screenings as they relate to the detection of cancer. If a physician suspects cancer, screenings become essential for confirming the diagnosis, determining the extent of the disease, and planning an appropriate treatment strategy. Timely screenings play a pivotal role in facilitating early intervention improving prognosis, and optimizing chances of successful treatment.