Kentucky being a Republican state means that they are a state that is suppose to represent "family values."
"Merry Christmas, happy New Year, and if you live in Kentucky, good luck going to the doctor," writes Splinter to start an article.
They write that because, "Starting Jan. 1, Kentucky will require all patients to make a copay when visiting the doctor, regardless of income or financial status."
As reported by Louisville Courier-Journal, those who get healthcare through Medicaid, they will have to "pay $3 copay for most doctor's visits, as well as copays for services such as dental care and prescription drugs."
Despite protests by healthcare providers and advocates, "the administration of Gov. Matt Bevin is introducing mandatory copays Tuesday for the majority of adults among the state's nearly 1.4 million people covered by Medicaid."
Bill Wagner, CEO of Family Health Centers, told the Journal that this decision would impact the roughly 4,500 patients who are homeless.
"It's unnecessary, it's burdensome, it can discourage patients." "I'm not sure what the purpose is of the copay."
"Right now, I'm living dollar to dollar," said 22-year-old John Howard. "What if I get sick while I'm homeless? How do I pay for it?"
"It's a disaster," said Dr. Robert Wojda, who sees patients at the Family Health Centers' Phoenix Health Care Clinic for the Homeless in Louisville. "These people are the poorest of the poor. They have the least."
Despite the fact that over 25 health organizations in the state have written a letter to Gov. Matt Bevin, the copays will be enacted on Jan. 1.
Wagner told the Journal that the reasoning for the copay rule is based on, "an ideological belief that people who pay for something will value it more, that a copay will lead to higher patient engagement." Yet, also says that he has not seen any evidence that proofs this belief to be true.
According to the Journal, many healthcare providers are going to continue seeing patients who can't make to copay payments, and just take the loss.
In the end, the Republican Party of Kentucky is going do things to its healthcare system based on beliefs rather than facts.
Fucking great....
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