MEDICAID OVERSIGHT AND ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED, SENATE APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

MEDICAID OVERSIGHT AND ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED, SENATE APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 28, 2025) — In a step toward improving transparency and fiscal stewardship within Kentucky’s most extensive government program, the Kentucky General Assembly has officially authorized the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board (MOAB), established under House Bill 695 during the 2025 Legislative Session. In addition to creating the board, the legislation promotes work and community engagement for able-bodied adults, increases pharmacy and behavioral health spending transparency, and requires legislative approval for significant policy changes for a more accountable, sustainable approach to managing the state’s Medicaid system.

On Wednesday, Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, announced the following Senate appointments to MOAB. 

Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, has been named co-chair. Additional voting legislative members include Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, Sen. Steve Meredith, R-Leitchfield, and Sen. Craig Richardson, R-Hopkinsville. 

“These appointments assure that the Senate has covered all bases,” Stivers said. “It’s important to have the right policy minds on this board. With Senators Adams, Carroll, Meredith, and Richardson, we have a great bench who have long prioritized the best interest of Kentucky’s children and vulnerable populations and has been at the forefront of health policy.” 

Additionally, Stivers has appointed Hollie Harris Phillips, CEO of Appalachian Regional Healthcare, and Dr. Joe Petrey, who represents the Dental Care Technical Advisory Committee, as the chamber’s two non-voting board members.

The authorization of MOAB reflects the General Assembly’s broader efforts to protect taxpayers, safeguard care for the most vulnerable, and ensure long-term sustainability of the Medicaid program. The board's creation comes amid growing concerns over increased spending, federal funding uncertainties, and expansion of Medicaid to populations beyond the program's original intent.

MOAB will be tasked with reviewing expenditures, contracts, and service delivery across Kentucky’s Medicaid program; monitoring implementation of key reforms, including managed care efficiency, behavioral health access, and pharmacy cost control; recommending policy changes to improve outcomes and reduce administrative waste; and evaluating federal changes that may impact Kentucky’s funding formula or eligibility thresholds.

“Medicaid now exceeds the size of the state’s entire general fund,” co-chair Adams said. “It demands the same level of oversight that helped rescue our pension systems from financial collapse. This board gives lawmakers a seat at the table and the tools to examine polices that serve Kentucky families who truly rely on this critical safety net.”

Discussions on Medicaid are ongoing in many spaces, including Washington, D.C., where policy reforms are being explored to control spending and improve the program's long-term sustainability. Federally, the program costs over $800 billion annually. 

Changes at the federal level could force difficult decisions at the state level. 

“We can’t afford to ignore the warning signs,” said Senate Budget Chair Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, who will serve on the board in an ex-officio role along with House Budget Chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton. “With the expansion of the Medicaid population in recent years, the program has continued to be stressed beyond its original intent. It has nearly doubled in the past 10 years without a corresponding improvement in Kentuckians’ health. This board will help protect the essential safety net by focusing on those who need it. It will also better enable us to be mindful of the taxpayer dollars that make the program possible.”

MOAB marks a critical step toward safeguarding Kentucky’s fiscal health and preserving Medicaid services for the elderly, disabled, and working families who rely on it.

The board is composed of 10 voting legislative members and 13 non-voting members. Voting members include lawmakers from both chambers—five appointed by House leadership and five by Senate leadership, with specific seats reserved for chairs or vice chairs of key health-related committees. Two co-chairs lead the board, one designated by the Speaker of the House and one by the Senate President. The 13 non-voting members include state officials, health care experts, and Medicaid providers.

Legislative committees, including statutory committees like MOAB, will meet monthly during the 2025 Interim, which begins on Tuesday, June 3. Visit legislature.ky.gov to learn more about legislative committees and to find meeting materials. 

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Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for information on Senate Majority Caucus members, legislative committees, and additional resources.

Lawmakers return to Frankfort on Tuesday, June 3, to start the 2025 Interim. During this period, committees will meet to study policy issues, review implementation of recently passed legislation, and begin evaluating proposals for the 2026 Regular Session, which begins Tuesday, Jan. 6.

The full 2025 Interim Calendar is available here. A weekly schedule with meeting times, topics, and agendas can be viewed at legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeCalendar.

Live coverage of interim legislative meetings is available at KET.org/legislature and on the LRC YouTube channel.

You can follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on X, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. For additional member information and press releases, visit KYSenateRepublicans.com.