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From Forward Kentucky: Beshear says he’ll immediately rescind Bevin’s Medicaid plan; Republicans wary of legislating it

Berry Craig
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By MELISSA PATRICK

For Kentucky Health News

Governor-elect Andy Beshear says he will rescind Republican Gov. Matt Bevin’s Medicaid plan, which includes, among other things, highly controversial requirements for work and other “community engagement,” and key Republicans in the General Assembly seem wary of trying to legislate such requirements over the Democrat’s likely veto.

Beshear said in claiming victory Tuesday night, “In my first week in office I am going to rescind this governor’s Medicaid waiver,” the federal term for such plans. “Health care is a basic human right and my administration will treat it as such.”

But the Republican-controlled legislature could pass the plan on its own, and override a Beshear veto. State Sen. Ralph Alvarado, a Winchester physician who was Bevin’s running mate for lieutenant governor, didn’t completely dismiss the possibility of legislating work requirements.

Read more here.