Bills to preserve Kynect and Medicaid expansion are going nowhere, put prompt a lively debate among legislators on KET
Owens acknowledged that House Bill 5 and House Bill 6 would likely get nowhere in the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans who support Bevin’s approaches. However, but the filing of the bills prompted a lively discussion among four legislators on Bill Goodman’s “Kentucky Tonight” program on KET Feb. 29.
were voting against their own interests and they’re very upset about that.”
Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, said Democrats are misleading the public: “Those people who have expanded Medicaid
think we’re taking their coverage away.” He said Bevin’s moves are intended to save costs: “A lot of this is not sustainable.”
healthier future.”
citizens are on Medicaid.” Neal said he couldn’t follow that argument.
Lee said the legislature should “do what we can to encourage a business
climate that would encourage better jobs to come to this state.”
Neal said the two goals are not in conflict because the state needs to have a healthy
workforce.
Overly said the Medicaid expansion serves the working poor who were going
to emergency rooms, “and we were paying for that.” Now those people “get well checkups and
visits” at no charge.
Lee said, “That’s just another tired play from the Obama
playbook. He said it would reduce costs.”
Higdon said the Medicaid managed-care organizations “were supposed to work with people and
get them healthy but are instead making money by shortchanging our
providers.”