Subscribe to Receive the Daily Report

Wednesday, January 13th, 2016

Bevin notifies feds he’ll dismantle kynect

Author:     Deborah Yetter
Source:     Louisville Courier-Journal
Publication Date:     6:37 p.m. EST January 11, 2016
 Link: Bevin notifies feds he’ll dismantle kynect
Stephan:   The scholar and researcher in me  loves stories like this one and the one that follows. It is the states as laboratories played out in reality. As a citizen however, I can only feel sorry for Kentuckians, although they voted Bevin into office. Governor Bevin, of course, is relying on the competency of the Obama Administration to affect a seamless transition. It is an utterly cynical act, the proof of which is,  as this piece points out, it will cost the state something north of $23 million at a time when Kentucky's budget is very lean. Also important: the insurance transition aspect is only a part of the state system which was set up by the previous Democratic governor. No arrangements have been announced yet about continuing the entire social safety net which grew up as Kynect evolved. It will be interesting to watch how Kentuckians respond to what is almost certainly going to be a loss of wellness in their lives.  
Kentucky Republican Governor Matt Bevin Credit: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Kentucky Republican Governor Matt Bevin
Credit: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY — Following through on a campaign pledge, Gov. Matt Bevin has notified federal authorities he plans to dismantle kynect, Kentucky’s health insurance exchange created under the Affordable Care Act.

The decision drew immediate fire from health care advocates, including Bill Wagner, executive director of the Family Health Centers, a network of public health clinics in Louisville.

“It’s a great disappointment,”  Wagner said. “It’s an unwelcome setback in our efforts to reach the number of uninsured people and improve access to health care in Kentucky.”

In a Dec. 30 letter to Sylvia Burwell, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bevin said he plans to wind down the state health exchange and transition Kentuckians to the federal site, healthcare.gov, to shop for insurance under the law also known as Obamacare.

Meanwhile, kynect remains open and the changes will not affect anyone shopping for insurance for the current enrollment period, which ends Jan. 31. […]

Read the Full Article