The Kentucky legislature recently voted to override Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of a bill that would halt dental, vision and hearing benefits for adult Medicaid recipients.
Five things to know:
1. The governor expanded dental, vision and hearing benefits under Medicaid in October 2022 to improve recipient wellbeing and workforce participation. The expansion went into effect Jan. 1.
2. Senate Bill 65 declared the expanded benefits were deficient under the state's emergency administrative regulations. The state's Senate and House approved the bill before sending it to Mr. Beshear to be signed into law.
3. Mr. Beshear vetoed the bill March 24, the Louisville Courier Journal reported. In his veto message, the governor stated that the services are necessary for individuals to seek employment.
4. Both legislative chambers voted to override the veto March 29. The decision was signed by the Senate president and speaker of the house before being sent to the secretary of state, where it currently stands.
5. If enacted into law, nearly 900,000 adults enrolled in the state's Medicaid program would lose those benefits.