Kentucky to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates to support struggling rural hospitals

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed into law a measure that will boost Medicaid payment rates for outpatient procedures, legislation designed to protect rural hospitals in the state, Becker’s Hospital Review reports. The new law requires the state's Department of Medicaid Services to analyze outpatient services and provide additional payment to hospitals. Additionally, the law allows Medicaid to create a hospital rate increase program for patients enrolled in its fee-for-service program to pay up to the upper Medicaid payment limit.