SB 97 — AN ACT relating to coverage for prostheses and orthoses.
Last action — signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 51)
-
✓Introduced
-
✓In Committee
-
✓Passed Senate
-
✓Passed House
-
✓To Executive
-
6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 15, 2026. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Andy Beshear (Democratic) on April 07, 2026.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
-
Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
-
11 sponsors
11 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
-
Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (11 R).
-
Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 3 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require health benefit plans to provide coverage for prostheses and orthoses; establish minimum requirements for the required coverage; require utilizations review decisions to be made in a nondiscriminatory manner; require an insurer or its private review agent to provide notice of certain rights of the insured; establish notice requirements for denials; establish network adequacy requirements for the provision of a prosthesis or orthosis that is required to be covered; establish reporting requirements for insurers and the commissioner of the Department of Insurance relating to the required coverage; amend KRS 164.2871 and 18A.225 to require self-insured group health plans offering by the governing board of state postsecondary education institutions and the state employee health plan to comply with the requirements relating to coverage for prostheses and orthoses; provide that the Act applies to health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2027.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
387 added · 508 removedPlain-language change summary
The amendment to SB 97 establishes a requirement for all health benefit plans in Kentucky to include coverage for prostheses and orthoses. This coverage is intended to be at least as comprehensive as what's provided under existing federal regulations, ensuring access to necessary medical devices for individuals in need. This change matters because it expands healthcare access for patients who rely on these devices, ultimately helping improve their quality of life and mobility.
UNOFFICIALCHAPTER COPY51 261 RSCHAPTER 51 ( SB 97/EN97 ) AN ACT relating to coverage for prostheses and orthoses.
Page 1 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN a.
Legislative Research Commission PDF Version ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ii.
If a prosthesis or orthosis that is less than three (3) years old is Page 2 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN being replaced, the insurer offering or providing the health benefit plan may require confirmation of the need for a replacement from the ordering health care professional;
and Page 3 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN (c) Complies with any other applicable state and federal laws.
CHAPTER 51 3 (c) By October 1 of each year, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Legislative Research Commission, for referral to the Interim Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance, that provides the aggregated data of the reports submitted under paragraph (b) of this subsection by plan year.
(1) The governing board of each state postsecondary educational institution is authorized to purchase liability insurance for the protection of the individual Page 4 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN members of the governing board, faculty, and staff of such institutions from liability for acts and omissions committed in the course and scope of the individual's employment or service.
Page 5 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN (b) KRS 304.17A-133;
or by any city, urban-county, charter county, county, or consolidated local Legislative Research Commission PDF Version ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY government, whose legislative body has opted to participate in the state-state-sponsored sponsored health insurance program pursuant to KRS 79.080;
and who is either a contributing member to any one (1) of the retirement systems administered by the state, including but not limited to the Kentucky Retirement Systems, County Employees Retirement System, Kentucky Page 6 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN Teachers' Retirement System, the Legislators' Retirement Plan, or the Judicial Retirement Plan;
(b) The term "health benefit plan" for the purposes of this section means a health Page 7 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN benefit plan as defined in KRS 304.17A-005;
All employees and other persons for whom the health care coverage is provided or made available shall annually be given an option to Page 8 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN elect health care coverage through a self-funded plan offered by the Commonwealth or, if a self-funded plan is not available, from a list of coverage options determined by the competitive bid process under the provisions of KRS 45A.080, 45A.085, and 45A.090 and made available during annual open enrollment.
CHAPTER 51 5 (c) Any carrier bidding to offer health care coverage to employees shall agree to provide coverage to all members of the state group, including active employees and retirees and their eligible covered dependents and beneficiaries, within the county or counties specified in its bid.
Page 9 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN (e) The Personnel Cabinet shall develop the necessary techniques and capabilities for timely analysis of data received from carriers and, to the extent possible, provide in the request-for-proposal specifics relating to data requirements, electronic reporting, and penalties for noncompliance.
For any participating entity that used Page 10 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN the state payroll system, the employer contribution amount shall be equal to but not greater than the state contribution rate.
Legislative Research Commission PDF Version ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (5) No payment of premium by any department, board, agency, public postsecondary educational institution, or branch of state, city, urban-county, charter county, county, or consolidated local government shall constitute compensation to an insured employee for the purposes of any statute fixing or limiting the compensation of such an employee.
Page 11 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN (6) The policy or policies may contain the provisions with respect to the class or classes of employees covered, amounts of insurance or coverage for designated classes or groups of employees, policy options, terms of eligibility, and continuation of insurance or coverage after retirement.
The secretary shall also appoint two (2) members from a list of five (5) names submitted by the Kentucky Education Association, two (2) members from a list of five (5) names submitted by the largest state employee organization of nonschool state employees, two (2) members from a list of five (5) names submitted by the Kentucky Association of Counties, two (2) members from a list of five (5) names submitted by the Kentucky League of Cities, and two (2) members from a list of names consisting of five (5) names submitted by each state employee organization that has two thousand (2,000) or more members on state payroll Page 12 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN deduction.
The Page 13 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN retail pharmacy shall not be required to dispense by mail.
(14) The policy or policies provided to state employees or their dependents pursuant to this section shall provide coverage for obtaining a hearing aid and acquiring hearing aid-related services for insured individuals under CHAPTER 51 7 eighteen (18) years of age, subject to a cap of one thousand four hundred dollars ($1,400) every thirty-six (36) months pursuant to KRS 304.17A-132.
(18) If a state employee's residence and place of employment are each located in counties in which the hospitals do not offer surgical services, intensive care services, obstetrical services, level II neonatal services, diagnostic cardiac catheterization services, and magnetic resonance imaging services, the employee may select a plan available in a county contiguous to the county of residence that does provide those services, and the state contribution for the plan shall be the Page 14 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN amount available in the county where the plan selected is located.
(21) Any fully insured health benefit plan or self-insured plan issued or renewed on or Page 15 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN after July 12, 2006, to public employees pursuant to this section which provides coverage for services rendered by a physician or osteopath duly licensed under KRS Chapter 311 that are within the scope of practice of an optometrist duly licensed under the provisions of KRS Chapter 320 shall provide the same payment of coverage to optometrists as allowed for those services rendered by physicians or osteopaths.
Legislative Research Commission PDF Version ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (f) KRS 304.14-135;
and Page 16 of 17 SB009720.100 - 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 97/EN (t) Administrative regulations promulgated pursuant to statutes listed in this subsection.
PageSigned 17by ofGovernor 17April SB009720.1007, -2026. 1263 - XXXX 3/31/2026 3:26 PM Engrossed
Action History
-
signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 51)
-
delivered to Governor
-
enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House
-
enrolled, signed by President of the Senate
-
passed 38-0
-
Senate concurred in Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1)
-
posted for passage for concurrence in House Floor Amendment (1) and Committee Substitute (1)
-
to Rules (S)
-
received in Senate
-
3rd reading, passed 95-0 with Committee Substitute (1) and Floor Amendment (1)
-
floor amendment (1) adopted
-
Committee Substitute (1) adopted
-
floor amendment (1) filed to Committee Substitute
-
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 27 2026
-
2nd reading, to Rules
-
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
-
to Banking & Insurance (H)
-
to Committee on Committees (H)
-
received in House
-
3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute (1)
-
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 12 2026
-
2nd reading, to Rules
-
reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
-
to Banking & Insurance (S)
-
to Committee on Committees (S)
-
introduced in Senate
Sponsors
- Phillip Wheeler · Primary
- Brandon J. Storm · Primary
- Aaron Reed · Primary
- Steve Rawlings · Primary
- Matt Nunn · Primary
- Amanda Mays Bledsoe · Primary
- Scott Madon · Primary
- Greg Elkins · Primary
- Matthew Deneen · Primary
- Julie Raque Adams · Primary
- Rick Girdler · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →11 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 127 not signed on
Sponsors (11)
- Phillip Wheeler Republican
- Brandon J. Storm Republican
- Aaron Reed Republican
- Steve Rawlings Republican
- Matt Nunn Republican
- Amanda Mays Bledsoe Republican
- Scott Madon Republican
- Greg Elkins Republican
- Matthew Deneen Republican
- Julie Raque Adams Republican
- Rick Girdler Republican
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (127)
127 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 127 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (38)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Cassie Chambers Armstrong | Democrat | Yea |
| Gary Clemons | Democrat | Yea |
| Gerald A. Neal | Democrat | Yea |
| Karen Berg | Democrat | Yea |
| Keturah J. Herron | Democrat | Yea |
| Aaron Reed | Republican | Yea |
| Amanda Mays Bledsoe | Republican | Yea |
| Brandon J. Storm | Republican | Yea |
| Christian McDaniel | Republican | Yea |
| Craig Richardson | Republican | Yea |
| Danny Carroll | Republican | Yea |
| David P. Givens | Republican | Yea |
| Donald Douglas | Republican | Yea |
| Gary Boswell | Republican | Yea |
| Greg Elkins | Republican | Yea |
| Jared Carpenter | Republican | Yea |
| Jason Howell | Republican | Yea |
| Jason Nemes | Republican | Yea |
| Jimmy Higdon | Republican | Yea |
| Julie Raque Adams | Republican | Yea |
| Lindsey Tichenor | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Nunn | Republican | Yea |
| Matthew Deneen | Republican | Yea |
| Max Wise | Republican | Yea |
| Michael Meredith | Republican | Yea |
| Nick Wilson | Republican | Yea |
| Phillip Wheeler | Republican | Yea |
| Rick Girdler | Republican | Yea |
| Robby Mills | Republican | Yea |
| Robert Stivers | Republican | Yea |
| Robin L. Webb | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Madon | Republican | Yea |
| Shelley Funke Frommeyer | Republican | Yea |
| Stephen West | Republican | Yea |
| Steve Rawlings | Republican | Yea |
| Tom Smith | Republican | Yea |
| Wade Williams | Republican | Yea |
| Walker Thomas | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican | 75 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 95 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| % of votes cast | 94% | 0% | 0% | 6% |
How each member voted (101)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis C | — | Yea |
| COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY SENATE | — | Not Voting |
| Adam Moore | Democrat | Yea |
| Adrielle Camuel | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Al Gentry | Democrat | Yea |
| Anne Gay Donworth | Democrat | Yea |
| Ashley Tackett Laferty | Democrat | Yea |
| Beverly Chester-Burton | Democrat | Yea |
| Chad Aull | Democrat | Yea |
| Daniel Grossberg | Democrat | Yea |
| Erika Hancock | Democrat | Yea |
| George Brown Jr. | Democrat | Yea |
| Joshua Watkins | Democrat | Yea |
| Lindsey Burke | Democrat | Yea |
| Lisa Willner | Democrat | Yea |
| Mary Lou Marzian | Democrat | Yea |
| Matthew Lehman | Democrat | Yea |
| Nima Kulkarni | Democrat | Yea |
| Pamela Stevenson | Democrat | Yea |
| Rachel Roarx | Democrat | Yea |
| Sarah Stalker | Democrat | Yea |
| Tina Bojanowski | Democrat | Yea |
| Aaron Thompson | Republican | Yea |
| Adam Bowling | Republican | Yea |
| Amy Neighbors | Republican | Yea |
| Bill Wesley | Republican | Yea |
| Bobby McCool | Republican | Yea |
| Candy Massaroni | Republican | Yea |
| Chris Freeland | Republican | Yea |
| Chris Fugate | Republican | Yea |
| DJ Johnson | Republican | Yea |
| Daniel Elliott | Republican | Yea |
| Daniel Fister | Republican | Yea |
| David Hale | Republican | Yea |
| David Meade | Republican | Yea |
| David W. Osborne | Republican | Yea |
| Deanna Gordon | Republican | Yea |
| Derek Lewis | Republican | Not Voting |
| Emily Callaway | Republican | Yea |
| Felicia Rabourn | Republican | Yea |
| J.T. Payne | Republican | Yea |
| James Tipton | Republican | Yea |
| Jared Bauman | Republican | Yea |
| Jason Nemes | Republican | Yea |
| Jason Petrie | Republican | Yea |
| Jennifer Decker | Republican | Yea |
| Jim Gooch Jr. | Republican | Yea |
| John Blanton | Republican | Yea |
| John Hodgson | Republican | Yea |
| Josh Branscum | Republican | Yea |
| Josh Bray | Republican | Yea |
| Josh Calloway | Republican | Yea |
| Ken Fleming | Republican | Yea |
| Ken Upchurch | Republican | Yea |
| Kevin Jackson | Republican | Yea |
| Kim Banta | Republican | Yea |
| Kim Holloway | Republican | Yea |
| Kim King | Republican | Yea |
| Kimberly Poore Moser | Republican | Yea |
| Marianne Proctor | Republican | Yea |
| Mark Hart | Republican | Yea |
| Mary Beth Imes | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Lockett | Republican | Yea |
| Matthew Koch | Republican | Yea |
| Michael Meredith | Republican | Yea |
| Michael Sarge Pollock | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Clines | Republican | Yea |
| Mitch Whitaker | Republican | Yea |
| Myron Dossett | Republican | Yea |
| Nancy Tate | Republican | Yea |
| Nick Wilson | Republican | Yea |
| Patrick Flannery | Republican | Yea |
| Peyton Griffee | Republican | Yea |
| Randy Bridges | Republican | Yea |
| Rebecca Raymer | Republican | Yea |
| Richard White | Republican | Yea |
| Robert Duvall | Republican | Yea |
| Ryan Bivens | Republican | Yea |
| Ryan Dotson | Republican | Yea |
| Samara Heavrin | Republican | Yea |
| Savannah Maddox | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Lewis | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Sharp | Republican | Yea |
| Shane Baker | Republican | Yea |
| Shawn McPherson | Republican | Yea |
| Stephanie Dietz | Republican | Yea |
| Steve Bratcher | Republican | Yea |
| Steve Riley | Republican | Yea |
| Steven Doan | Republican | Yea |
| Steven Rudy | Republican | Not Voting |
| Susan Witten | Republican | Yea |
| Suzanne Miles | Republican | Yea |
| T.J. Roberts | Republican | Yea |
| Thomas Huff | Republican | Yea |
| Timmy Truett | Republican | Yea |
| Tom Smith | Republican | Yea |
| Tony Hampton | Republican | Not Voting |
| Vanessa Grossl | Republican | Yea |
| Wade Williams | Republican | Yea |
| Walker Thomas | Republican | Yea |
| William Lawrence | Republican | Not Voting |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (38)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Cassie Chambers Armstrong | Democrat | Yea |
| Gary Clemons | Democrat | Yea |
| Gerald A. Neal | Democrat | Yea |
| Karen Berg | Democrat | Yea |
| Keturah J. Herron | Democrat | Yea |
| Aaron Reed | Republican | Yea |
| Amanda Mays Bledsoe | Republican | Yea |
| Brandon J. Storm | Republican | Yea |
| Christian McDaniel | Republican | Yea |
| Craig Richardson | Republican | Yea |
| Danny Carroll | Republican | Yea |
| David P. Givens | Republican | Yea |
| Donald Douglas | Republican | Yea |
| Gary Boswell | Republican | Yea |
| Greg Elkins | Republican | Yea |
| Jared Carpenter | Republican | Yea |
| Jason Howell | Republican | Yea |
| Jason Nemes | Republican | Yea |
| Jimmy Higdon | Republican | Yea |
| Julie Raque Adams | Republican | Yea |
| Lindsey Tichenor | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Nunn | Republican | Yea |
| Matthew Deneen | Republican | Yea |
| Max Wise | Republican | Yea |
| Michael Meredith | Republican | Yea |
| Nick Wilson | Republican | Yea |
| Phillip Wheeler | Republican | Yea |
| Rick Girdler | Republican | Yea |
| Robby Mills | Republican | Yea |
| Robert Stivers | Republican | Yea |
| Robin L. Webb | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Madon | Republican | Yea |
| Shelley Funke Frommeyer | Republican | Yea |
| Stephen West | Republican | Yea |
| Steve Rawlings | Republican | Yea |
| Tom Smith | Republican | Yea |
| Wade Williams | Republican | Yea |
| Walker Thomas | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 97 do?
- Create a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to require health benefit plans to provide coverage for prostheses and orthoses; establish minimum requirements for the required coverage; require utilizations review decisions to be made in a nondiscriminatory manner; require an insurer or its private review agent to provide notice of certain rights of the insured; establish notice requirements for denials; establish network adequacy requirements for the provision of a prosthesis or orthosis that is required to be covered; establish reporting requirements for insurers and the commissioner of the Department of Insurance relating to the required coverage; amend KRS 164.2871 and 18A.225 to require self-insured group health plans offering by the governing board of state postsecondary education institutions and the state employee health plan to comply with the requirements relating to coverage for prostheses and orthoses; provide that the Act applies to health benefit plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2027.
- Who sponsors SB 97?
- SB 97 is sponsored by Phillip Wheeler (Republican), Brandon J. Storm (Republican), Aaron Reed (Republican), Steve Rawlings (Republican), Matt Nunn (Republican), Amanda Mays Bledsoe (Republican), Scott Madon (Republican), Greg Elkins (Republican), Matthew Deneen (Republican), Julie Raque Adams (Republican), and Rick Girdler (Republican).
- What is the current status of SB 97?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 15, 2026. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 97?
- Track SB 97 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on SB 97
Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.
Stay ahead of SB 97
Last checked for changes about 2 months ago · updated continuously
One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.
Track this bill →