By Public News Service’s Nadia Ramlagan
This week was the inaugural meeting of Kentucky’s recently formed Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board. The board, which consists of individuals, was created by lawmakers during the 2025 legislative session.
In light of continuous threats to reduce federal funding for Medicaid, experts think public education is essential.
Medicaid is the biggest provider of health care in Kentucky, but few people understand how it operates, according to Dr. Sheila Schuster, executive director of the Advocacy Action Network and a certified psychologist.
To get down to the specifics, what are the programs, aside from the financial aspect? Schuster stated. How do they operate? Who are the suppliers? Are there enough providers here? How do we maintain our medical facilities—hospitals, assisted living institutions, etc.?
The board will conduct a thorough analysis of state Medicaid spending, make policy recommendations, and monitor the potential effects of federal decisions on Medicaid access in Kentucky.
According to Emily Beauregard, executive director of Kentucky Voices for Health, lawmakers do not need to lower coverage, despite the fact that Congress is proposing cuts that could impact over $1 billion in funding for Kentucky Medicaid.
Without diminishing services or provider reimbursement rates, Beauregard stated that there is plenty that can be done to eliminate unnecessary expenditure on red tape and excessive paperwork from the system without affecting anyone’s coverage.
“It is impossible to overstate the economic benefits of Medicaid for Kentucky,” Schuster continued.
According to Schuster, Medicaid is a collaboration between the federal government and the states. As a poor state, we contribute about 28 cents and receive 72 cents from the federal government to cover every $1 in medical expenses.
According to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, the fifth congressional district in eastern Kentucky has the highest Medicaid funding percentage of the local economy among its healthcare providers.