News
APRIL 2017 · VOLUME 27 & ISSUE 4
A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER LOUISVILLE MEDICAL SOCIETY
WHAT’S INSIDE
Page 1 - 2017 Legislative
Session Success
Page 3 - Match Day
SEVERAL PIECES OF
LEGISLATION PASSED THANKS
TO YOU
Page 4 - RSVP for
Presidents’
Celebration
Page 6 - PEPS Updates
Thanks to the lobbying work done by GLMS and
KMA physicians, several new health care related
laws have passed the Kentucky legislature. Be-
low is a list of each piece of legislation with a
brief description of their intent. Thanks to Cory
Meadows, KMA Director of Advocacy and Legal
Affairs, the KMA for all of their hard work and
collaboration this year!
MEDICAL REVIEW PANELS:
SB 4 was a major priority of physicians during this
legislative session as it provides a stepping stone
for achieving tort reform in Kentucky. Sponsored
by Sen. Ralph Alvarado, MD, the bill requires
medical malpractice cases to go before Medical
Review Panels before they can be filed in court.
Those panels will consist of groups of indepen-
dent, expert health care providers who can offer
an opinion on the merit of medical malpractice
cases. In a statement, KMA said the bill “repre-
sents a significant first step in creating a more
fair and consistent legal climate for Kentucky
health care providers.”
SMOKING CESSATION
COVERAGE:
SB 89 requires both private insurers and the
state’s Medicaid MCOs to cover tobacco cessa-
tion medicine and services recommended by the
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Studies show
that smokers have more success quitting when
they work with their physicians. This legislation
was sponsored by Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-
Louisville. The state of Kentucky spends $1.92
billion annually on smoking-related health care
expenditures.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
REPORTING:
SB 86 changes the requirements of domestic
(continued on page 2)