Kentucky GOP cutting vision, dental care for 460,000 people



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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The administration of Gov. Matt Bevin reduces dental coverage and vision for nearly half a million Kentuckians after his plan for revision Medicaid was rejected in court.

The state cabinet for health and family services calls the cuts an "unfortunate consequence" of Friday's ruling by a federal judge.

District Judge James E. Boasberg's refusal to reform the state's Medicaid program was also a failure for the administration of President Donald Trump, who encouraged states to impose work and other changes to the federal program and

The decision of Bevin's administration is to return the blame to the judge.

The ruling means that there is no more "legal mechanism" to pay for dental and visual coverage for about 460,000 Medicaid beneficiaries, the health and family services firm of the Ministry of Health. State said in a weekend statement.

"This is an unfortunate consequence of the judge's decision," the firm said. "Once we finally succeed in this legal challenge, the beneficiaries will have access to these optional services."

The actions of the Bevin administration on Monday sparked criticism from the Kentucky Democrats

"We call for thoughtful discussions involving the administration and the many players in the state in the way forward to ensure the families of Kentucky workers have health care, "said Jenkins. "Shortsighted" Republican actions are already causing confusion and hardship.

"We have people coming for dentist appointments months ago and neither they nor providers are really certain of the rules," he said. "It's unacceptable for the government to function that way."

The action of the Bevin administration could have another side effect, compounding the state's addiction problems, she said. "The federal health care law championed by former President Barack Obama has given states the opportunity to extend Medicaid coverage to valid adults." Kentucky, under former Democratic governor Steve Beshear , was one of 32 states that did, and nearly 500,000 Kentuckians got Medicaid coverage as a result.

But Bevin, elected in 2015, said the program was too expensive To continue, he asked for permission to impose new rules, including monthly bonuses, requiring at least 80 hours of "community participation" per month, which could include work, volunteering, or going to school.

Adam Meier, secretary of Bevin's Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said that if the decision is upheld, the state will have no choice but to reduce benefits significantly – Kentucky was the first State to obtain permission to impose new rules, which were to take effect Sunday in the suburbs of Cincinnati, in northern Kentucky [2]. 19659023] In his ruling, the judge reprimanded the Trump administration for approving the new rules regardless of the number of people who would lose their health coverage.

The government stated that it is clear that "the dental and visual benefits for the approximately 460,000 beneficiaries depended on the new Medicaid changes.

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