UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1320
Page 1 of 2
XXXX 2/16/2024 12:06 PM Jacketed
A RESOLUTION urging the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services to 1
initiate communication with the Commonwealth's neighboring states regarding the 2
possibility of establishing and entering into an interstate compact with the 3
Commonwealth of Kentucky to permit 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Medicaid 4
waiver services beneficiaries to receive covered waiver services in any of the compact 5
states. 6
WHEREAS, the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services currently operates 7
three 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers for individuals 8
with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and 9
WHEREAS, more than 20,000 residents of the Commonwealth are enrolled in these 10
waiver programs; and 11
WHEREAS, an additional 10,000 Kentuckians are currently on waiting lists for 12
enrollment in 1915(c) HCBS waiver programs; and 13
WHEREAS, the Kentucky General Assembly has taken steps to increase 14
reimbursement rates to help mitigate the staffing shortage that contributes to the waiver 15
waitlist; and 16
WHEREAS, Kentucky's community-based HCBS waiver service providers have 17
struggled for years to recruit and retain qualified direct support professionals (DSP) and 18
other critical staff to provide services to individuals with intellectual and developmental 19
disabilities; and 20
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on Kentucky's 21
system of community-based care providers by depleting the state's DSP workforce; and 22
WHEREAS, more than 40 percent of Kentucky's 120 counties border another state; 23
and 24
WHEREAS, many residents in Kentucky's border counties regularly receive 25
healthcare services in bordering states; and 26
WHEREAS, current federal regulations prohibit Medicaid beneficiaries, in nearly 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1320
Page 2 of 2
XXXX 2/16/2024 12:06 PM Jacketed
all instances, including those enrolled in a 1915(c) HCBS waiver program, from 1
receiving care outside of their home state except in emergency situations; and 2
WHEREAS, Medicaid beneficiaries are denied access to care in bordering states; 3
NOW, THEREFORE, 4
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 5
Commonwealth of Kentucky: 6
Section 1. This honorable body respectfully urges the Kentucky Department for 7
Medicaid Services to initiate communication with the Commonwealth's neighboring 8
states regarding the possibility of establishing and entering into an interstate compact 9
with the Commonwealth of Kentucky to permit 1915(c) Home and Community-Based 10
Medicaid waiver services beneficiaries to receive covered waiver services in any of the 11
compact states. 12
Section 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to transmit a 13
copy of this Resolution to Representative Rachel Roarx; Governor Andy Beshear, State 14
Capitol, Room 100, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601; the Secretary of the Cabinet for Health 15
and Family Services, Eric Friedlander, 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40621; 16
and Commissioner of the Department for Medicaid Services, Lisa Lee, 275 East Main 17
Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40621. 18