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Legislative Update from Rep. Randy Bridges

Legislative Update from Rep. Randy Bridges
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By Rep. Randy Bridges
Feb. 21, 2020 | PADUCAH
By Rep. Randy Bridges Feb. 21, 2020 | 05:31 PM | PADUCAH
House Approves Measure to Strengthen Public Assistance Programs - By Representative Randy Bridges

Throughout my time in the Kentucky House, I have made this district my top legislative priority. When I go to work, I go to work for our families and our future. I have supported policies aimed at growing our economy, promoting accountability and transparency of all government programs, protecting life, defending our most vulnerable, and preserving Kentucky values. That is why I am so proud of the McCracken County Jail Vocational Training Program. It enables inmates to reenter the workforce and gives them a stake in their own future.

This week I am proud to say that the House passed legislation that makes changes to how our public assistance programs serve our most vulnerable friends and neighbors. Kentucky has one of the lowest workforce participation rates in our nation, which basically means too many Kentuckians who could be working are not. The number of people on our Medicaid program adds up to more than twice the number of children we have in our classrooms. Overall, almost 30 percent of our 4.5 million people is on some type of Medicaid.

As you are aware, one of my top priorities is promoting workforce development. HB 1 is the first step towards turning “benefit cliffs” into true “safety nets” in order to help Kentuckians find a path to consistent employment. What is a benefit cliff? It is the term used to describe what happens when public benefits end when household earnings increase. The abrupt loss of benefits can actually set families back because even though household earnings increased, they usually have not increased enough.

Many of HB 1’s provisions came directly from recommendations made by the Task Force on Public Assistance Reform, which met throughout the summer and fall of 2019. This measure is based on the idea that if public assistance programs are going to work, there must be accountability – for both the people they serve and the people who fund them. These programs were created to provide temporary assistance to help those in need get back on their feet and reach economic stability. However, over time we have spent billions and still seen so many families fail. It is time for a fundamental change in how we approach public assistance.

The provisions of HB 1 do not apply to those who qualify under the traditional Medicaid program, but rather to the recipients who have been added as part of the expansion. The bill also preserves exemptions for pregnant mothers, the elderly, and others who are unable to work.

HB 1 also makes decreasing fraud and misuse a priority. A part of the bill places all public assistance payments that an individual receives on one Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. This should not only make it easier for a recipient to keep track of the card, but also prevent those who want to take advantage of their benefits from selling their card or trading it for something. The bill also allows the state to eliminate eligibility for all public assistance programs for individuals found to be trafficking in EBT cards. It restricts the use of cash withdrawn from an EBT card to only the purchase of goods and services necessary for the welfare of the family. The HCS codifies federal prohibitions on the use of cash benefits to purchase alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or vaping products; goods or services at a casino or adult entertainment establishment; and services from tattoo or body piercing facilities.

I want to stress that custodial parents who lose benefits because of fraud or misuse can reassign child benefits to another person – we do not want to add to the suffering a child faces.

If this bill clears the Senate to become law, Kentucky will be among the first states to enroll in the National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC), a program aimed at identifying people who are receiving public assistance payments in more than one state. This is common sense, but I am amazed at how much money has been saved in the pilot version of NAC. Mississippi alone identified and prevented a monthly average of more than 300 dual participants with a total savings of more than $161,000 monthly and $1.9 million annually.

I mentioned earlier that the goal for this bill is to eliminate the barriers that keep people from getting and keeping a job. Health insurance is a huge expense for all of us, but many people remain on Medicaid – and unemployed - only to keep their insurance. With HB 1, we are directing the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to explore funding and implementation options for creating a “bridge” insurance plan to provide health insurance coverage to those entering the work force through expanded time-limited eligibility for Medicaid.

In addition to HB 1, I am extremely proud of HB 12. Passed in the House this week, HB 12 would limit out-of-pocket costs for insulin prescriptions. The legislation mandates that the cost of insulin would be capped at $100 per prescription for a 30-day insulin supply. The cap would apply to people with commercial health insurance plans.

As always, if you have any questions or comments about this session, I can be reached during the week from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (EST) through the toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at Randy.Bridges@lrc.ky.gov. You can keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at legislature.ky.gov and you can also follow me on Twitter @RepRandyBridges. 

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