June 2005

Kentucky to consider co-pay for chiropractic services

Kentucky faces nearly a $675 million Medicaid shortfall next year that could force the program to increase fees or even cut some services, top state health officials have said. One alternative being considered is to charge Medicaid enrollees co-payments for doctor or hospital visits, ambulance transportation, urgent treatment care and chiropractic visits. State officials haven’t determined an amount, but the federal government caps per-visit fees for many services at $3.

In the coming weeks, the health cabinet will also will review services Kentucky offers that are not mandated by federal rules, such as dental, vision, hearing and some mental health coverage, said James Holsinger, health cabinet secretary.

About $388 million of the expected deficit for fiscal 2006 that begins July 1 stems from federal changes and cutbacks, Medicaid Commissioner Shannon Turner told the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The forthcoming federal budget hits, combined with swelling rolls of Medicaid recipients and rising costs of health care, will force the Health and Family Services Cabinet to reconsider over the next three to four months the scope of its Medicaid coverage, ranging from services to patient fees to doctor and hospital reimbursements, Turner said.

Source: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com

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