His health initiatives in the political crosshairs, Gov. Beshear defends kynect, Medicaid expansion

cn|2 Pure Politics ^ | 11/14/2015 | Kevin Wheatley

[Republican Wildcat]

Gov. Steve Beshear gave a forceful defense of federal health programs he enacted during his final term in office, urging Gov.-elect Matt Bevin, who campaigned aggressively on scrapping the state-based exchange kynect and altering expanded Medicaid, to reconsider his position on Friday.

Beshear mentioned Bevin by name repeatedly during a Capitol news conference highlighting recent health progress in the state, pointing to statistics showing increased health coverage and economic activities in his appeal to the Republican.

“During election season the political rhetoric tends to be strong and the promises bold,” said Beshear, a Democrat. “But the fun and games are over, and it is time to get serious.”

Scrapping kynect, he said, would make Kentucky the first state to shutdown a functioning health exchange and cost the state $23 million in transitioning to the federal exchange, which charges insurance providers 3.5 percent on premiums compared to kynect’s 1 percent assessment.

Despite Beshear’s pleas, however, Bevin’s transition team gave no indication that the incoming governor planned to back away from his campaign pledges to shutter kynect and seek waivers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in adopting a new Medicaid expansion model. Both were optional provisions of the Affordable Care Act, and Bevin has often referenced Indiana’s expanded Medicaid system, which requires monthly premiums between $1 and $27.

“Governor-Elect Bevin has laid out a health care vision for Kentucky that will encourage personal responsibility and focus on expanding access to quality, affordable health care coverage,” Jessica Ditto, spokeswoman for Bevin’s transition team, said in a statement.

“His administration will move forward in addressing Kentucky’s health care needs in a deliberate and thoughtful fashion, consulting with Kentucky’s health care stakeholders, his Cabinet appointees and the General Assembly.”

[Republican Wildcat]

This massive new program was enacted by Beshear by executive fiat - the legislature passed no legislation to authorize the creation of kynect or authorize the Medicaid expansion.

[ChildOfThe60s]

It was an illegal EO and the Republicans did what they always to. They went to court rather than show some spine. Guess how the court ruled? Like they always do in thess cases.

[Republican Wildcat]

Stumbo is in control of the House, so there was nowhere else to go but the Courts, who punted.