Healthcare

Create a new section of KRS 304.17A-660 to 304.17A-669 to define "psychiatric collaborative care model"; require the commissioner of insurance to promulgate and maintain an administrative regulation to list alterations and additions to relevant billing codes; require health benefit plans that provide coverage for treatment of a mental health condition to provide reimbursement for those benefits that are delivered through the psychiatric collaborative care model; authorize insurers to deny any benefit billed under a covered billing code on grounds of medical necessity if certain conditions are met; apply requirement to health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; require the Department of Insurance to seek a federal waiver if cost defrayal is determined.

Direct the Legislative Research Commission to procure a vendor to conduct a feasibility study for an Accountable Communities for Health Medicaid delivery model pilot project; require the results of the study to be submitted to the Legislative Research Commission by November 1, 2026; strongly encourage the Legislative Research Commission to begin the procurement process immediately upon the adoption of this Resolution; establish that a pilot project resulting from the feasibility study shall be known as the 20 by 30 Accountable Care Pilot Project.

HB 369 adds post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a qualifying condition for veterans to access hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in Kentucky. It amends state law to allow veterans diagnosed with PTSD - confirmed by a treating health care provider - to receive HBOT, expanding eligibility beyond traumatic brain injury. The bill requires written informed consent from veterans or their legal guardians, detailing treatment options, potential outcomes, and financial responsibility for the therapy. This policy change directly affects Kentucky veterans with PTSD seeking this specific medical treatment option.

SJR 23 declares Kentucky a "Food is Medicine" state to address chronic health conditions through nutrition. It directs state agencies to integrate nutrition into healthcare by supporting medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions for high-risk groups, and partnerships with farms and hospitals. The resolution specifically requires agencies to coordinate with the Kentucky Hospital Association and Department of Agriculture to expand local food-based health interventions. This policy change aims to reduce healthcare costs linked to diet-related chronic conditions, which affect 40.4% of Kentucky adults and cost over $29 billion annually.

Create new sections of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to define terms; require health plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of feeding or eating disorders; prohibit insurers from using certain standards, including body mass index, to deny, limit, or restrict coverage; authorize insurers to consider certain factors when determining medical necessity or the appropriate level of care for an individual diagnosed with a feeding or eating disorder; amend KRS 304.17C-125, 304.38A-115, 205.522, 205.6485, 164.2871, and 18A.225 to require limited health services benefit plans, limited health service organizations, Medicaid, KCHIP, self-insured employer group plans provided by the governing board of a state postsecondary education institution, and the state employee health plan to comply with the coverage requirements for feeding or eating disorders; provide that various sections apply to health plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department for Medicaid Services to seek federal approval if it is determined that such approval is necessary; provide authorization from the General Assembly to make changes in the Medicaid program as required under KRS 205.5372(1); EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2027.

Amend KRS 205.522 and 205.6485 to require Medicaid and KCHIP to comply with pharmacy reimbursement requirements established in KRS 304.12-237; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the Department for Medicaid to seek federal approval if it is determined that such approval is necessary; provide authorization from the General Assembly to make changes to the Medicaid program as required under KRS 205.5372(1).

Amend KRS 314.041, relating to registered nurse licensure, and KRS 314.051, relating to licensed practical nurse licensure, to add credential requirements; amend KRS 314.042 to require physicians collaborating with an advanced practice registered nurse to have an active and unrestricted license in Kentucky; amend KRS 314.109 to reduce the time from 90 to 30 days for a person under the jurisdiction of the board to notify the board of a conviction of certain misdemeanors or felonies; amend KRS 209.032, relating to employees of vulnerable adult service providers, to permit a state licensing board to query the cabinet for a validated substantiated finding of adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation against an individual under the licensing board's jurisdiction; create a new section of KRS 158.830 to 158.838 to define terms; permit health care practitioners to prescribe and dispense undesignated glucagon in the name of a school or to a trained individual; permit trained individuals to receive, possess, and administer undesignated glucagon during diabetic medical emergencies; permit schools to stock undesignated glucagon; provide for immunity from civil liability for any personal injury resulting from good-faith actions to use undesignated glucagon to treat diabetic medical emergencies; amend KRS 158.832 to add definition of "documented medical conditions" and medications to the definition of "medications"; amend KRS 158.834 to add medical conditions and medications that may be self-administered in schools with parental authorization and a prescription; amend KRS 158.836 to require students to permit bronchodilator rescue inhalers, nebulizers, glucagon, Solu-Cortef, or other prescribed medications in their possession or in the possession of school personnel; encourage schools to stock undesignated glucagon; and require policies and Good Samaritan protection for the good-faith administration of glucagon, Solu-Cortef, or other prescribed medications for authorized school employees; EMERGENCY.

Amend KRS 311.840 to define terms; amend KRS 311.842, 311.848, 311.850, 202A.011, 202C.010, 216B.175, and 600.020 to change references to "supervising physician" to "collaborating physician" to conform; amend KRS 311.844 to include Schedule II controlled substances in the list of controlled substances authorized license holders may prescribe; amend KRS 311.858 to list the services a physician assistant may provide; require a physician assistant to consult and collaborate with or refer a patient to an appropriate licensed physician as indicated by the patient's condition and the standard of care; create a new section of KRS 311.840 to 311.862 to establish requirements for a collaboration agreement between a collaborating physician and a physician assistant; amend KRS 186.577 to allow physician assistants to administer driver vision tests; amend KRS 218A.202 to conform; repeal KRS 311.854, 311.856, and 311.860, relating to supervising physicians.

Amend KRS 335.010 to exempt student interns or trainees from social work licensure requirements; direct the Kentucky Board of Social Work to promulgate administrative regulations to define standards for student involvement in clinical social work; amend KRS 335.020 to define terms; amend KRS 335.030, 335.070, 335.080, 335.090, 335.100, 335.150, and 335.158 to establish licensure standards, including use of a multistate license, criminal background checks, and telehealth; amend KRS 335.050 to require that at least 1 licensee member of the board is a teacher actively engaged in social work education; amend KRS 387.610 and 457.090 to conform.

Amend KRS 311.571 to allow and specify requirements for a physician licensed to practice medicine in another country to obtain a provisional license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth; specify requirements for a provisional license to convert to a regular license; add conditions for the Board of Medical Licensure to revoke a provisional license; make technical changes.