Friday April 19, 2024
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In one of her first official site visits since taking the helm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Dr. Anne Schuchat met with public health officials in Kentucky to discuss various programs and policies impacting the state’s public health system. Dr. Schuchat, CDC’s acting director, participated in day-long activities with staff from the Department for Public Health (DPH), within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), related to Kentucky’s opioid and drug overdose epidemic as well as sessions dealing with health data and analytics.
“I appreciate the chance to learn from the partnerships and programs that Kentucky has established to tackle the opioid epidemic and other public health challenges, said Dr. Schuchat, following her visit to Kentucky. “Hearing from people from public health, academia, coalitions, and public safety made a strong impression on me of the crucial role that partnerships play in protecting people’s health in Kentucky.”
“We were tremendously honored to host Dr. Schuchat in Kentucky today and greatly appreciate her time and invaluable insights into the American public health system,” said CHFS Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson. “The opioid epidemic is the number one public health crisis facing Kentucky. It is extremely beneficial for us to be able to share information and collaborate with CDC leadership on these issues as we work toward building a healthier state.”
Dr. Schuchat began her public health career in 1988 when she came to CDC as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer. She was principal deputy director of CDC during 2015-2017 and director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases from 2006-2015. She was promoted to Rear Admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service in 2006 and earned a second star in 2010. Dr. Schuchat was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) in 2008.
Dr. Schuchat has played key roles in a number of CDC emergency responses. Most notably, she served as Chief Health Officer for CDC’s 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza response; led the CDC team responding to the SARS outbreak in Beijing in 2003; and supported the Washington D.C. field team during the 2001 bioterrorist anthrax response.
“She has a unique overview of medicine and health in America and strong ideas about public health as an important profession,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Hiram C. Polk, Jr.
The sessions were held in DPH. Sec. Glisson, Deputy Secretary Judge Timothy Feeley, DPH Commissioner Dr. Hiram Polk and public health experts from across the Commonwealth got a chance to speak with the acting director about Kentucky’s relationship with the CDC and her plans for the agency.
Beginning today, the Commonwealth of Kentucky takes its first official step toward tort reform, initiating a new program to review claims of malpractice against healthcare providers before any legal action can be filed in court.
The 2017 Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate Bill 4 establishing Medical Review Panels (MRPs) to help weed out unfounded or frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits. Governor Matt Bevin enthusiastically endorsed the bill and signed the legislation into law.
“Making sure patients can pursue legal action in the event of medical malpractice is an important part of securing justice for those harmed by the healthcare system. However, it is equally important that providers be protected from frivolous or unfair claims,” said CHFS Deputy Secretary Judge Timothy Feeley. “MRPs will ensure there is an adequate basis for civil action before a case is pursued in court.”
Any person alleging malpractice against a healthcare provider or institution must first bring a “proposed complaint” to the Medical Review Panels Branch within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), before filing the claim in a Kentucky court. The MRPs will serve as a pre-cursor to filing a medical malpractice action in court and will be staffed by an attorney and three Kentucky-licensed healthcare providers to provide a peer-reviewed assessment of each case. Healthcare providers included in the statute are broadly defined. They include, but are not limited to, physicians, dentists, pharmacists, social workers and nursing homes.
“Medical Review Panels are a small step toward stemming the flow of medical practitioners out of our state,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ralph Alvarado, in a press release. “The lack of healthcare providers in our Commonwealth can be largely attributed to the litigious-friendly climate in which we have found ourselves in recent years due to the absence of tort reform.”
No matter the outcome of the opinion, the plaintiff retains a right to pursue a medical malpractice claim in a court of competent jurisdiction after the final MRP opinion is rendered. If the plaintiff chooses to file a civil complaint following the MRP review, either party may move the trial court to admit the MRP opinion as evidence in the same manner a party would move to admit the testimony of an expert witness.
For more information on the MRP process, go to: mpr.ky.gov or contact the Medical Review Panel Branch at CHFS via email at mrp@ky.gov.
Photo: Legal Aid Society of Louisville
A new telephone hotline gives qualifying parents free legal assistance related to their custody and visitation concerns. The toll-free Custody and Visitation Hotline number is 1-844-673-3470. Phone lines are open Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. Eastern time.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) Office of Child Support Enforcement (CSE) has an agreement with the Legal Aid Society (LAS) to operate the “Custody and Visitation” Hotline. The statewide service is for eligible parents, on an income-based scale, who have concerns regarding custody and visitation issues with their children.
Steve Veno, Commissioner of the CHFS Department for Income Services, which oversees the CSE, said an LAS attorney will handle all hotline calls and provide legal advice or assistance to callers such as how to file a motion, how to file or change a child custody or visitation order in the appropriate court and how to work through visitation and custody issues.
“We have heard from many parents who ask about access to legal help, so we know the need is there,” Veno said. “Our agency isn’t able to address these issues, but now there is a resource for parents with simple legal questions or deeper concerns. We anticipate a lot of parents will take advantage of this new resource.”
LAS attorneys cannot file legal pleadings, appear in court or address child support issues.
Funding for the hotline comes from a grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families and provides for initial operation of the service through June 2018. CSE and LAS staff will meet regularly to evaluate the program, address challenges and ensure progress.
“Helping parents with their custody and visitation questions will give them more peace of mind,” concluded CHFS Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson. “In turn, this will help children. The connection between parents having a relationship with their children and financially supporting their children is strong. Collection of court-ordered child support payments is another integral part of the Office of Child Support Enforcement’s mission.”
While this partnership deals specifically with custody and visitation issues, a number of separate resources are also available for parents dealing with child support issues.
The Child Support Enforcement Hotline – 800-248-1163 – is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. The Child Support Interactive Voice Response Payment Line – 800-443-1576 – is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Kentucky Child Support Interactive website – https://csws.chfs.ky.gov/csws/ – is available for parents to access information about their cases and to make payments.
For more information about Kentucky Child Support Enforcement, log on to http://chfs.ky.gov/dis/cse.htm.
As part of the 52 Weeks of Public Health campaign, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH), within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), is calling on homeowners to help control mosquitoes by eliminating standing water from containers that can collect rainwater where insects breed.
“Everyone needs to do their part to help reduce the mosquito population,” said Hiram Polk Jr., MD, DPH commissioner. “As we are out in the garden getting ready for the growing season or after a rain shower, spend a moment or two thinking about other potential breeding areas for mosquitoes. Walk around your yard once a week or after a rain shower to see if there are any containers holding water and drain them.”
Female mosquitoes need only a teaspoon of water in which to lay eggs; can become an adult mosquito in just seven days; and have a lifespan of about two weeks. Mosquitoes will lay eggs in almost anything such as a bottle cap, a candy wrapper, folds of a plastic tarp or downspout, discarded tires, children’s toys or the seat of a riding lawn mower. Mosquitoes lay eggs on the walls of water-filled containers and the eggs stick like glue and remain attached until they are scrubbed off. The eggs can survive when they dry out up to 8 months. Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover or throw out containers that can hold water.
Common household items that can be a home for mosquito larvae include buckets, garbage cans, tires, tarps, gutters and flexible downspout extensions, decks and porches, kiddie pools and pool covers, sand boxes, wagons and big plastic toys, planter saucers or planters without drainage holes, wheelbarrows, watering cans, bird baths, decorative ponds without fish and unscreened water barrels.
If you cannot eliminate or drain a breeding ground because it is too heavy to move, consider using a larvacide such as mosquito dunks containing a biological larvacide.
For more information about the mosquito proofing your yard to reduce mosquito populations, see this video featuring Dr. Anna Yaffee, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, Kentucky Department for Public Health.
For further information visit the DPH website http://healthalerts.ky.gov/zika or the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/zika. Be sure to follow KYHealthAlerts on Twitter and DPH’s Zika mascot, Marty Mosquito, on Instagram, @martymosquito.
Throughout the planned 52 Weeks of Public Health promotion, DPH will spotlight a specific public health issue. Additional information about the campaign is available on the DPH website: http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/default.htm and will be posted on the CHFS Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/kychfs where Kentuckians are encouraged to like and share posts among their networks of friends.
“You can’t do everything, but you can do something.” That phrase served as the theme for today’s Child Abuse Awareness Summit in Northern Kentucky. Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky (CHNK) hosted the event in collaboration with three other child welfare organizations: DCCH Center for Children and Families (Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky), Holly Hill Children’s Services (California, Kentucky), and St. Joseph Orphanage (Cincinnati, Ohio).
The summit marked the close of National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and started discussions about how the tri-state area plans to address and meet the needs of increasing numbers of youth in out-of-home care in the Commonwealth.
“This is a remarkable example of how much can be accomplished when people come together with a common purpose,” remarked Kentucky First Lady Glenna Bevin. “These children need our help and I can’t think of anything more fulfilling than helping children. You are literally changing lives and saving the lives of children.”
Friday’s summit was a call to action for the community to share adoption and foster care program reform initiatives to address the increasing number of youth in the child welfare system. One simple way to help is through CHNK’s Duffle Shuffle Challenge, which encourages the wider community to donate new duffle bags that will be given to youth in out-of-home care; many times, these youth must use trash bags for their belongings as they move from foster home to foster home.
“We heard the plea. We’re cutting through the red tape and mobilizing people to do something of goodwill,” said CHNK Chief Executive Officer Rick Wurth. “I am really excited that we have four Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati child welfare organizations coming together cooperatively to respond to this need. The new sense of collaboration is amazing.”
Summit organizers say the idea for today’s gathering came from last month’s Open Hearts/Open Homes summit that Governor Bevin and the First Lady hosted in Frankfort. That event launched the administration’s efforts to transform Kentucky’s foster care and adoption services into model programs for the entire nation.
Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson told the crowd of more than 100 today that everyone has a role to play.
“It really takes all of us – social workers, other government experts, family, neighbors – to keep kids out of harm’s way,” Glisson said. “We commend our community partners who have come up with such an innovative approach to support our state’s children. While everyone cannot be a foster or adoptive parent, there is a role for everyone to play in addressing this crisis.”
Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky takes a family-centered, holistic approach to behavioral health and substance use treatment for youth experiencing abuse, neglect, addiction, or other trauma. CHNK’s menu of services, offered by 120 healthcare professionals across three locations, includes community-based services, intensive outpatient services, and residential treatment. Accredited by the national Council on Accreditation, CHNK has served the Northern Kentucky community and Commonwealth of Kentucky for over 135 years. For more information on CHNK go to: https://www.chnk.org/.
First Lady Bevin and Secretary Glisson also visited Covington’s Homeward Bound Shelter, which is a 24-hour emergency shelter that provides a safe environment and residential treatment services for runaway, homeless, abused, neglected and dependent youth. They had the opportunity to speak with several youth who have received assistance from the center.
“It was so moving to hear from these young people,” First Lady Bevin continued. “Some of them have faced a long road to recovery from where they started, but supports like this center have helped them grow stronger, every step of their journey. They are truly inspirational.”
Learn more about the Homeward Bound Shelter and the mission of the Brighton Center at http://brightoncenter.com/.
Governor Matt Bevin has proclaimed April “Child Abuse Prevention Month in Kentucky.” In his proclamation, Governor Bevin wrote that “effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among state and local government agencies, schools, faith communities, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community.” Read the full proclamation at http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2017-PROC-249092.pdf.
Call your local police or the cabinet’s child abuse hotline at 877-KYSAFE1 – 877-597-2331 – to report suspected abuse. Callers remain anonymous.
Members of the faith-based community in the Louisville area are invited to learn more about Governor Matt Bevin’s “Open Hearts/Open Homes” initiative during a series of breakfast events later this month.
The Jefferson County Office of the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS), which coordinates the foster care and adoption program within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), is sponsoring several free “Kickoff Breakfasts” for faith-based community partners. Everyone is invited for a meal and fellowship to discuss the state’s need for more adoptive families.
Gov. Bevin launched Open Hearts/Open Homes in March at a Frankfort summit of more than 200 partners as part of his pledge to improve the state’s adoption and foster care system. Open Hearts/Open Homes aims to find permanent placements for those children in foster care with a goal of adoption by relying on the state’s churches, nonprofit groups and caring individuals.
Gov. Bevin said he hopes to see the Louisville-area network of churches become involved in Open Hearts/Open Homes.
“We are asking our churches to help lead on this issue,” Gov. Bevin said. “Church leaders and members are encouraged to consider the life-changing journey of foster care and adoption. With the commitment of these incredible communities, we can give these children the forever homes with loving families.”
Of the state’s 8,000 plus children in out of home care, more than 1,000 are in Jefferson County. Each session begins at 9 a.m. and include a short presentation about the foster care and adoption program and a question and answer session with those in attendance. Each event will close with prayer at 10 a.m.
Here is the schedule for the breakfast sessions in Louisville this month.
- April 25: Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place, 1411 Algonquin Parkway
- April 26: Charmoli Neighborhood Place (Middletown), 200 Juneau Drive, Suite 200
- April 27: Fairdale Neighborhood Place (Fairdale), 1000 Neighborhood Place (off National Turnpike, behind the South Park TAPP School)
- April 28: Youth for Christ Building, 4102 W. Market St.
Because of limited seating, RSVPs are required and should be sent to patricia.franke@ky.gov. Please limit number of attendees to two per organization.
CHFS Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson said Gov. and First Lady Glenna Bevin are putting all Kentucky children first in their efforts to improve the Commonwealth.
“Gov. Bevin and the First Lady are exceptional ambassadors for our foster and adoption services,” Glisson said. “Thanks to the Governor’s servant leadership we are now in position to discuss the great need around this issue and engage many more loving families into the foster and adoptive communities.”
For more information about how you can become a foster or adoptive parent, or to get more general information simply email: openhearts@ky.gov, go to the state adoption website adopt.ky.gov, which helps families more easily navigate the foster care and adoption process or call 1-800-232-KIDS (5437).
Currently, about 84,000 Kentuckians have a current QHP purchased on the exchange.
Here are “five things to know” about the move from kynect to healthcare.gov.
Transition facts:
We expect a smooth transition to healthcare.gov. People should be aware that kynect is not health insurance, it is a website. This transition changes the web portal people use to enroll. Healthcare.gov is used now in nearly 4 out of 5 states. Kentucky will save at least $10 million each year in operating costs by making the switch.
People should also be aware that there is less competition/choice for plans this year and premiums are increasing on the exchange by more than 20 percent. Regarding plan choice, people should know that this transition to healthcare.gov did not affect plan choice. All insurers made the same offerings regardless of the enrollment website selected, which are the same as in prior years. However, the instability created in the exchange markets by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has caused insurers to pull out of the exchange markets across the country, and we saw that here in Kentucky. If they did not pull out, they adjusted for the risk with substantial rate increases. Cost increases were not driven by the transition to healthcare.gov.
Here are some key points for Kentuckians to know:
- Nothing changes with 2016 coverage. Plans are still valid through Dec. 31, 2016.
- Beginning Nov. 1, 2016, Kentuckians who qualify for a Qualified Health Plan need to apply and enroll at HealthCare.gov for 2017 coverage.
- Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for 2017 Qualified Health Plan coverage is from Nov. 1, 2016 to Jan. 31, 2017. You must enroll by Dec. 15, 2016 for coverage to begin Jan. 1, 2017.
- If a person is enrolled in 2016 with an issuer that will not be offering plans in 2017 on HealthCare.gov, the enrollee will have more time to choose a plan for 2017 due to a Special Enrollment Period for Loss of Minimum Essential Coverage.
- Kentuckians can only get the tax credit, called APTC or Advanced Premium Tax Credit or a Cost Sharing Reduction that helps cover out-of-pocket costs by enrolling through HealthCare.gov.
- The Medicaid program and application process have not changed. If a person is enrolled in Medicaid, they do not need to do anything until their renewal/recertification date. If someone is Medicaid eligible, he/she can apply anytime during the year.
- The kynect call center (855-459-6328) is still here to help direct Kentuckians where to go for coverage. The call center will help prescreen for program eligibility and can assist with Medicaid applications. The call center can also help with questions and information.
- HealthCare.gov customer service call center can be reached at 800-318-2596 and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Where to apply
Kentuckians who have applied for or enrolled in coverage through kynect are receiving notices in the mail about the transition. These notices explain the transition and directs them where to go and what to do for 2017 coverage. Postcard reminders with relevant dates and helpful information are sent every three weeks to remind them to enroll and guide them through enrollment.
Beginning Nov. 1, the kynect website will serve as a landing page and offer detailed messaging and direction on when and where to apply. The kynect customer service contact center can assist with questions, prescreening eligibility, and Medicaid applications. When consumers call kynect they will hear a special message with information about changes for 2017. Their number is 855-459-6328.
Media advertising and events are planned to begin throughout the state to inform the public of where to go to apply and enroll.
The HealthCare.gov website has messaging in place for Kentucky residents as well as messages through their phone system. The HealthCare.gov customer service call center can be reached at 800-318-2596 and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The kynect Customer Service call center can assist with questions, prescreening eligibility, and Medicaid application at 855-459-6328.
There are specially trained groups that can offer in person assistance in every county. Kentuckians can search for an insurance agent or application assister (formerly called kynectors) who can work with them in person or over the phone to answer questions or get assistance with the application and enrollment process.
Kentuckians can use the “search” function on the kynect website or they can call Customer Service to help them find someone in the consumer’s area who can help them.
HealthCare.gov customer service call center can be reached at 800-318-2596 and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
HealthCare.gov targets:
While there has been plenty of media around the transition throughout the year, the most focused use of our resources has been a targeted campaign to contact people who have used kynect to purchase QHPs in the past. Only about 2 percent of Kentucky’s population purchases a QHP in a given year, so targeting resources to this group and doing it in the final month leading up to open enrollment and continuing through open enrollment is the most effective use of resources. These are strategies the state used effectively to re-enroll people after the Kentucky Co-Op collapsed and left 51,000 without insurance. Here are some of the targeted outreach activities:
- Targeted notices to Kentuckians explain the transition and steps enrollees or applicants need to take for 2017 coverage.
- Postcards will be mailed every three weeks during open enrollment to remind Kentuckians to complete the enrollment process on healthcare.gov.
- Issuers are also sending notices to their enrollees to notify them of changes and next steps.
- Insurance agents and application assisters have advertising tool kits for education and outreach efforts.
- Agents and assisters were provided a list of all their QHP enrollees for outreach.
- Social media messages will offer direction and information.
- Targeted advertisements will be placed on social media platforms.
- Text messaging and email campaigns will be sent to enrollees.
- Display advertising will be placed around the state.
- Radio spots will run in various markets.
You can also expect to see press releases with details for the general public leading up to open enrollment and continuing throughout with key dates.
Also, from an internal standpoint, additional training and technical assistance has been given to assistors or kynectors and agents so they can navigate consumers through the process. KOHBIE conducted eight forums throughout the state for stakeholders. Locations and dates were Sept. 20, Northern KY; Sept. 22, Frankfort; Oct. 3, Owensboro; Oct. 4, Paducah; Oct. 7, Louisville; Oct. 10, Morehead; Oct. 11, Prestonsburg; Oct. 13, Somerset.
Agents, navigators, advocacy groups, and other interested stakeholders attended these forums which were designed to inform and educate participants about the transition, the FFM processes, available trainings and resources (both federal and state level) and allowed for a question and answer period with KOHBIE staff. Again, we think this will help these groups to work with the public through open enrollment.
KOHBIE is hosting two webinars a week on different subjects to prepare agents and all assister types for the transition. Additional webinars will continue to be held on various topics as needed.
kynectors are application assisters:
Kentucky has a contract with the same organizations for assistance as in previous years and we expect similar levels of assisters as in previous years. Some volunteers and workers for these organizations are still in the process of completing training for HealthCare.gov and state training; therefore, we do not yet have the firm number of participating assisters for 2017. We are confident our assister agencies will have the ability to provide the same exceptional service.
kynectors are now called application assisters. Every county in Kentucky is served by a contracted organization for in-person assistance. kynectors have a very active outreach program that includes sign up events, advertising, and education opportunities. They will continue to be very active in the communities they serve. To contact an application assister, Kentuckians can use the search function on the kynect website or call the kynect customer service contact center.
All notices that were mailed to applicants and enrollees explaining the transition included contact information for the Application Assister or Insurance Agent of record.
It is worth noting that consumers cannot apply in the wrong way or place. For example, if an application is started in benefind but is QHP eligible, it will transfer to the federal marketplace. If a consumer submits an application to HealthCare.gov, it will be entered and if found potentially Medicaid eligible, it will be transferred to the state for eligibility determination. Same customer service number and websites are still here to help answer questions and direct people to the right place.
