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HB 3KENTUCKYSession 2026RSState BillSigned into law
Enacted

Kentucky requires Medicaid managed care and state health programs to comply with pharmacist service and insurance statutes

Original title: AN ACT relating to reimbursements for pharmacist services.

Last action · April 13, 2026: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 99)Sponsors: Amy Neighbors and 9 others

Companion · SB 38same policy, Senate version
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Does

Kentucky law now subjects the Department for Medicaid Services and contracted s to specific insurance and pharmacist service statutes. The measure also updates requirements for the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (), including premium tiers and provider contracting standards.

Why it matters

Medicaid beneficiaries, -enrolled families, and health plans must operate under expanded statutory compliance requirements for pharmacist and health services, with KCHIP families facing specific income-based premium contributions ranging from $10 to $120.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Department for Medicaid Services

The department must ensure compliance with a specified list of insurance and pharmacist service statutes.

Directly affected

Managed care organizations

Contracted organizations providing Medicaid benefits must comply with designated insurance and reporting statutes.

Directly affected

Cabinet for Health and Family Services

The cabinet is required to prepare state child health plans, establish KCHIP eligibility and benefit schedules, and request federal authorizations.

Directly affected

KCHIP recipients

Enrolled children receive scheduled benefits including preventive, vision, and dental services with direct access to specialists.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state entities are required to comply with the pharmacist and insurance statutes under this law?
The Department for Medicaid Services, any contracted to provide Medicaid benefits, and the state's medical assistance program.
Do KCHIP recipients need a primary care referral to see a dentist or eye doctor?
No, recipients have direct access without a referral from a gatekeeper primary care provider to dentists for covered primary dental services and to optometrists and ophthalmologists for primary eye and vision services.
What are the income-based premium contribution tiers for KCHIP families?
Families with income between 100% and 133% of the pay $10; those between 134% and 149% pay $20; and those between 150% and 200% pay $120 (which may be paid as $20 per month or $60 per quarter).

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

13 actions
  1. Apr 13, 2026HouseEnrolled
    signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 99)
  2. Apr 1, 2026HouseEnrolled
    enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House enrolled, signed by President of the Senate delivered to Governor
  3. Mar 31, 2026HouseFloor
    3rd reading, passed 38-0 received in House
  4. Mar 26, 2026House
    posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Friday, March 27 2026
  5. Mar 11, 2026HouseFloor
    2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill
  6. Mar 10, 2026House
    reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar
Show 7 earlier actions
  1. Mar 6, 2026SenateCommittee
    to Banking & Insurance (S)
  2. Feb 2, 2026SenateIntroduced
    received in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
  3. Jan 30, 2026HouseFloor
    3rd reading, passed 93-0
  4. Jan 29, 2026HouseFloor
    2nd reading, to Rules posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, January 30 2026
  5. Jan 28, 2026House
    reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
  6. Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
    to Banking & Insurance (H)
  7. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    introduced in House to Committee on Committees (H)

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Amy NeighborsHouse · District 21RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Steve BratcherHouse · District 25RepublicanCosponsor
Beverly Chester-BurtonHouse · District 44DemocraticCosponsor
Mike ClinesHouse · District 68RepublicanCosponsor
Al GentryHouse · District 46DemocraticCosponsor
Show 5 more sponsors
Tony HamptonHouse · District 62RepublicanCosponsor
DJ JohnsonHouseCosponsor
Scott LewisHouse · District 14RepublicanCosponsor
David OsborneHouse · District 59RepublicanCosponsor
Steven RudyHouse · District 1RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Medicaid and KCHIP Statutory Alignment

The Act explicitly binds the Department for Medicaid Services and managed care organizations to a comprehensive list of insurance statutes.

Department for Medicaid ServicesCabinet for Health and Family Services

Connected Entities

General Assembly, Department for Medicaid Services, Finance and Administration Cabinet and 2 more
OrganizationGeneral Assembly“The legislative body that enacted the bill.”Map →
OrganizationDepartment for Medicaid Services“Administers Medicaid benefits and is subject to compliance requirements.”Map →
OrganizationFinance and Administration Cabinet“Provides oversight over contracting policies and procedures.”Map →
OrganizationCabinet for Health and Family Services“Responsible for preparing the state child health plan and administering KCHIP.”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Department of Health and Human Services“Federal department receiving the state child health plan.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

apps.legislature.ky.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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