Healthcare

HJR 25 declares Kentucky a "Food is Medicine" state and directs state agencies to integrate nutrition into healthcare systems. It specifically requires agencies to support medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions for high-risk patients, and partner with local farms to address diet-related chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. The bill targets populations in Kentucky with high rates of chronic conditions (40.4% of adults) and aims to reduce healthcare costs by expanding existing initiatives, such as those led by the Kentucky Hospital Association and Department of Agriculture. This resolution focuses on policy coordination rather than creating new programs.

Amend KRS 319.020 to expand the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology from 9 members to 11 members; make 1 of the new members a doctoral-level psychologist and the other a masters-level psychologist; amend KRS 319.030 to require the board to submit its annual report to the Legislative Research Commission and post the report on its website; include both the average and modal time it takes the board to issue or deny a license and to complete the disciplinary process; amend KRS 319.050 to require an applicant to pass examinations related to mental health law and psychology practice; direct the board to schedule an examination within 30 to 60 days of accepting the examination application; allow an examinee to delay the examination for accident, illness, or injury, if approved by the board chair or the chair's designee; allow the board to suspend the applicant's temporary license for any unapproved examination delay.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 278 to create winter and summer temperature standards for disconnection of service by retail electric and gas utilities; allow resumption of disconnection only after a 72-hour period during which the temperature standard is exceeded; establish a certificate of need for persons who are at risk if utility service is disconnected that can be provided by a physician, physician assistant, community-based service organization, or faith-based service organization; prohibit disconnection of service on holidays and weekends, including Fridays, and before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; allow for reconnection of service for partial payment with a payment plan; require waiver of termination fees, reconnection fees, and late fees for customers having obtained a certificate of need; require utility to make reasonable effort towards reestablishing service for a customer terminated after having obtained a certificate of need but no more than 24 hours after repayment is commenced; require separate, written notice 14 days prior to a disconnection to residential household; require that notice be distinguishable from the regular billing notices; establish font size and typeset for material to be printed on the notice; require a hardship reconnection order for persons at risk who have had service terminated by the utility after meeting specific repayment requirements; require the Public Service Commission to promulgate administrative regulations and issue an order setting forth any applicable rules and procedures.

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).

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 314 to define terms; establish the Kentucky Advisory Council of Licensed Lactation Consultants under the Board of Nursing and list the powers and duties of the council; require the board to promulgate administrative regulations relating to licensed lactation consultants; permit the board to require a criminal background investigation of an applicant for a license as a licensed lactation consultant by means of a criminal background check; establish provisions for penalties.

HB 14 allocates $355 million from the General Fund for fiscal year 2026-27 to a revolving loan fund providing competitive grants to rural hospitals in Kentucky. These grants help rural hospitals stabilize operations and modernize facilities by covering costs like equipment upgrades and operational expenses. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate funding after passage, bypassing standard implementation timelines. This directly affects rural hospitals facing financial strain, offering targeted support to maintain critical healthcare access in underserved communities.

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.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 13A to find 201 KAR 9:270 and 201 KAR 20:065 deficient and void; create new sections of KRS Chapters 311, 313, 314, and 315 to establish that the State Board of Medical Licensure, Board of Dentistry, Kentucky Board of Nursing, and Kentucky Board of Pharmacy shall not promulgate administrative regulations that restrict or limit the prescribing, dispensing, or administering of buprenorphine-mono-product, buprenorphine-combined-with-naloxone, or any other Schedule III, IV, or V medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a substance use disorder; EMERGENCY.

Amend KRS 95A.292 to allow rescue squad members to participate in the Alan "Chip" Terry Professional Development and Wellness Program; create a new section of KRS Chapter 39F to direct the Division of Emergency Management and the Kentucky Fire Commission to enter into an agreement to ensure that rescue squad members have access to the program; provide that the Act may be cited as Gavin's Rights.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 177 to allow the Department of Highways to install signs that display the 988 national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline on bridges on state-maintained highways.