Frankfort, Kentucky (January 30, 2026) – For many Kentuckians, pharmacists are the healthcare providers they see most often. Whether answering questions, managing medications, or identifying potential health concerns, pharmacists play a critical and ongoing role in patient care.
On Friday, the Kentucky House took action to protect and expand access to pharmacy care with the passage of HB 3. The measure, sponsored by Representative Amy Neighbors of Metcalfe County, would require the state’s Medicaid program to reimburse pharmacists for providing the routine, preventative, and chronic-care services they already deliver.
“Kentucky pharmacists have stepped up time and again to provide these services at no cost because, for many rural Kentuckians, they are the only healthcare providers they see on a regular basis. This frequent interaction uniquely positions them to improve health outcomes and reduce the strain on the broader healthcare system,” Neighbors added. “Their commitment to community is admirable, but pharmacists still face the same financial realities as any other healthcare professional, including paying their staff and keeping their doors open. We can’t expect them to continue delivering essential care without fair compensation.”
Specifically, HB 3 would require reimbursement for clinical services that are already covered when delivered by other non-physician health care providers.
“For many working families, finding time to see a doctor during the workday isn’t realistic,” Neighbors said. “Those barriers hit working Kentuckians on Medicaid especially hard. Pharmacists help bridge that gap by providing convenient access to routine care, from immunizations and medication management to patient counseling.”
The measure is supported by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association and health care advocacy groups, including Kentucky Voices for Health.
“We are grateful to the House of Representatives for passing HB 3 with overwhelming support. This legislation is a significant step toward expanding access to essential primary care services for Kentuckians. Pharmacists across the Commonwealth are ready to help address healthcare access challenges by delivering high-quality, affordable care in their communities,” added Ronnah Alexander, President of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association and a pharmacist in Hopkinsville.
Neighbors stressed that it does not expand pharmacists’ scope of practice or mandate coverage of any new services under Medicaid. Instead, it brings Medicaid reimbursement policy in line with 2021 legislation (HB 48), which requires private insurers to reimburse pharmacists at the same rate as other non-physician providers for identical services.
The measure is the result of more than ten years of deliberation and research and is expected to save the Medicaid program millions in cost prevention. According to the Kentucky Pharmacists Association, pharmacist-provided care generates a $4.40 return for every dollar invested and has been shown to improve outcomes for patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes.
“We are working hard to find ways to make our Medicaid program more effective at improving health and efficient with the money we allocate. There is clear evidence that this is one way to do just that. States that have adopted similar policies are already seeing Medicaid savings or clear trends toward long-term cost reductions,” Neighbors said.
HB 3 now goes to the Senate for consideration. For more information, visit the legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.
Photo: Representative Amy Neighbors discusses how HB 3 would protect and expand access to healthcare by requiring the state’s Medicaid program to reimburse for services that are already covered when delivered by other non-physician health care providers.
Video: Click here to watch Representative Neighbors present HB 3 on the House floor.
(Laura Leigh Goins, Deputy Chief of Staff for Media Relations – Office of the Speaker)