Governor Steve Beshear says the problems with Kentucky’s new Medicaid Managed Care system will be resolved. Beshear pushed for the managed care system last year to take some of the administrative burden of Medicaid off of the state. But earlier this week, doctors, pharmacists and hospital officials told lawmakers there were significant problems with the system.
Specifically, care providers are owed millions of dollars in claim payments and have struggled to get pre-authorizations for procedures and medications.
But the governor isn't surprised to hear about the problems. “Look at when Passport first came online you’ll see all of the news reports and they're the same problems and same kinds of problems we’re having today. Now that doesn’t mean we ought not to be addressing those problems. And we are being very aggressive from the Cabinet standpoint and from my administration’s standpoint in looking at each one of those issues and resolving those issues," he says.
“I’m confident that we’re going to work through all of these issues," Beshear says. "This system’s gonna work, it’s worked in other states. It’ll work inKentucky. And in the process of it we’re gonna save about 365-75 million dollars over the next 3 years in general fund dollars.”
Passport has been in existence for more than a decade in and around Louisville. It was an example for the new providers. Beshear is confident the managed care system will be worth the savings to the state. Lawmakers are set to hear from the new MCOs, CoventryCares, WellCare and Kentucky Spirit, next week.