As we mark the start of the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly session, which officially convened on January 6, I want to take a moment to reflect on both the work ahead and the role we as physicians must play in shaping health policy in our Commonwealth.
Kentucky’s 60-day legislative session presents an important opportunity to advance meaningful reforms that will impact patients and practices across the state. In the months leading up to January 6, KMA worked closely with lawmakers, state agencies, physician leaders and other healthcare partners to ensure that the physician voice remains central in policy discussions. The session has now begun, and the pace is already picking up with more than 530 bills filed, including many impacting healthcare.
At the top of KMA’s 2026 legislative priorities is the continued effort to reduce administrative burden, particularly around prior authorization. Excessive delays, denials, and unnecessary documentation continue to pull physicians away from patient care and frustrate our ability to deliver timely, high-quality services. We will advocate for reforms that increase transparency, streamline these processes, and ultimately allow physicians to focus on what matters most: their patients.
I’m encouraged that progress is already being made. HB 176, which would enact meaningful prior authorization reforms, passed unanimously out of the House Banking and Insurance Committee and awaits a floor vote as I write this. It represents an important step forward in KMA’s multi-year effort to reduce administrative burden and treatment delays that harm patients and frustrate physicians.
Physician wellness and mental health access are gaining attention this session. SB 78, sponsored by Sen. Donald Douglas, M.D., would reform credentialing practices that discourage physicians from seeking mental health or substance use treatment, while HB 178, sponsored by Rep. Kim Moser, advances access to care by formally recognizing and requiring coverage for the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model.
I’m also proud that KMA will also continue to advocate for science-driven public health policy, building on our Small STEPS, Big Impact campaign, and to engage in discussions around scope of practice to ensure physician-led care remains central to complex diagnosis and treatment.
In addition to advocacy in Frankfort, I’m excited to tell you about an important upcoming CME event sponsored by our aforementioned Small STEPS, Big Impact campaign that is designed to address another major influence on patient health: popular health trends that may do more harm than good. “Trending Toward Trouble: Popular Health Fads Harming Your Heart,” will examine energy drinks, supplements, vaping, and other widely marketed items that patients increasingly encounter, especially on social media, often with misleading claims about health benefits.
This two-part series will take an evidence-based look at how these trends influence patient behavior, clinical outcomes, and cardiovascular risk. Session I is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, at 12:00 p.m. ET, featuring distinguished cardiologist John Higgins, M.D., with me serving as moderator. I encourage you to register here.
Physician engagement in advocacy, education, and leadership matters now more than ever. As the session unfolds, KMA will continue to keep you informed through weekly Legislative Alerts and Text Alerts (sign up for free by texting “KMA” to 50457). Thank you for your service to your patients and to our profession. Together, we can ensure that Kentucky’s health system remains strong, resilient, and focused on what matters most: better health for all Kentuckians.