Direct the Legislative Research Commission and state agencies to collaborate to create a state fiscal map of substance use disorder programs and funding sources; require the Legislative Research Commission to post the state fiscal map on its website and submit a report to the General Assembly by October 30, 2026.
Direct the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Eastern Kentucky University to coordinate a search for actionable solutions to physician shortages and to explore and expand health care opportunities in medically underserved areas in collaboration with community, state agency, professional associations, and other stakeholders; require a report to the General Assembly by January 1, 2027; APPROPRIATION; EMERGENCY, EFFECTIVE July 1, 2026.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to prohibit the Department for Medicaid Services, any Medicaid managed care organization contracted by the department, and the Medicaid state pharmacy benefit manager from denying coverage for a nonopioid analgesic in favor of opioid analgesic or establishing more restrictive or more extensive utilization controls for nonopioid analgesics than the least restrictive or extensive utilization controls for any opioid or narcotic analgesic; 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).
Direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to withdraw the 1115(a) demonstration waiver application that was submitted on June 25, 2025, to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement a mandatory community engagement program; EMERGENCY
Create new sections of KRS 304.17A-600 to 304.17A-633 to define terms; prohibit insurers of health benefit plans from requiring prior authorization for a health care service for which the provider has an exemption; require insurers of health benefit plans to establish a program under which participating providers may qualify for exemptions from prior authorization; establish mandatory and permitted provisions of an insurer's prior authorization exemption program; establish requirements for sending forms and notices; require the commissioner of the Department of Insurance to submit an annual report relating to prior authorization, provide a detailed briefing upon request, and promulgate administrative regulations; amend KRS 304.17A-605 to conform; amend KRS 304.17A-611 to prohibit conducting a retrospective review that is based solely on a participating provider having a prior authorization exemption; provide that certain utilization review time frames do not apply to retrospective reviews conducted for the purposes of determining eligibility for a prior authorization exemption; create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to require the commissioner of the Department for Medicaid Services to submit an annual report relating to prior authorization, provide a detailed briefing upon request, and promulgate administrative regulations; amend KRS 205.536 to conform; apply the provisions to contracts delivered, entered, renewed, extended, or amended on or after January 1, 2028; EFFECTIVE, in part, January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2028.
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.
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 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 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.
