With the merger of Deaconess and Jennie Stuart Health, cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, and a government shut down that is at least in part due to healthcare and insurance premiums, healthcare is at the top of a lot of folk’s minds.
So, Senator Craig Richardson and Kentucky Hospital Association Vice President of Policy of Government Relations Jim Musser stopped by WHOP Monday morning to talk all things healthcare—from what struggles are facing rural hospitals, the cuts and costs of Medicaid, their goals for the upcoming session of the General Assembly and more.
This will be Senator Richardson’s first budget session, and he’s coming in strong with help from the KHA—Musser says they’re pushing for continuation of the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which helps individuals pay for medicine they might not normally be able to.
Musser says they’re also calling expanded the Trauma System in western and eastern Kentucky, saying that trauma centers could help save the lives of numerous Kentuckians.
Senator Richardson says HR1 that was passed by federal legislators has generated some concern at the state level, as Medicaid remains one of the state’s largest expenditures. He says they’ll take this chance to make changes to the program, to get Medicaid back to a reasonable level.
He says everyone in the state legislature wants to get this budget right—and he says part of that will include a deep dive into the issues of Medicaid.
Musser and the KHA weren’t in town just for fun—they presented Senator Richardson with the Healthcare Champion Award. Musser says Senator Richardson has been stellar to work with in advancing healthcare policies across the state as Co-Chair of the Senate’s Health Services Committee.