Nearly 500,000 in Kentucky losing vision, dental coverage after stopping Medicaid

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LOUISVILLE, KY – The administration of Governor Matt Bevin cuts the dental and visual coverage of nearly half a million Kentiens after the rejection of his Medicaid review plan.

The state cabinet for health and family services calls these cuts an "unfortunate consequence" of Friday's ruling by a federal judge who said Kentucky can not demand the poor that they get jobs to keep their Medicaid benefits. District Judge James E. Boasberg's refusal to reform the Republican government's Medicaid program is a setback for the administration of President Donald Trump, who has encouraged states to impose work and other change requirements. to the Common Program of Health Insurance Poor and Disabled

Cabinet spokesman Doug Hogan has sought in a weekend statement to outright blame the judge

The decision means that there is no more "legal mechanism" in place to pay for dental coverage and vision for about 460,000 Medicaid beneficiaries, according to his release.

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

Democratic State Representative Joni Jenkins said she was concerned about "rash decisions"

. We call for thoughtful discussions involving the administration and the many state actors in order to ensure the health of working families in Kentucky, "said Jenkins in a statement

. 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 and he asked for permission to impose new rules, including monthly bonuses, requiring at least 80 hours of "community involvement". Per month, which could include work, volunteering, or school

.

Adam Meier, secretary of Bevin's Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said that if the decision was maintained, the state would have "no choice but to make significant reductions in benefits". He said the state faces a $ 300 million deficit in Medicaid over the next two years, and the new rules would have helped the state save money.

Kentucky was the first state to obtain permission to impose new rules. effect Sunday in a northern Kentucky suburb of Cincinnati. In his ruling, the judge reprimanded the Trump administration for approving the new rules without considering the number of people who would lose their health coverage.

Hogan said that the state "has clarified" that the dental and visual benefits for the approximately 460,000 beneficiaries were dependent on the new Medicaid changes.