Kentucky joins expanded rural healthcare payment program

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) — Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Kentucky is among five new states added to a program aimed at improving healthcare access in rural communities.

According to a release from the governor’s office, UnitedHealthcare selected Kentucky for inclusion in the Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot program.

The program is designed to help local hospitals get paid faster, reduce paperwork, and expand care for families by ensuring more reliable and timely payments.

Hospitals included in the initial rollout are Harrison Memorial Hospital in Cynthiana, Murray-Calloway County Public Hospital in Murray, Pikeville Medical Center in Pikeville, Taylor Regional Hospital in Campbellsville, and T.J. Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow.

In the program’s original four states, payment timelines for Medicare Advantage claims improved significantly, dropping from under 30 days to fewer than 15 days, according to the release.

With Kentucky’s addition, the program has expanded to include Alabama, Arkansas, Virginia, and West Virginia, bringing the total number of participating states to nine.

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