KRS 205.540: Advisory Council for Medical Assistance -- Membership -- Expenses --

Meetings -- Qualifications of members.

(1) An Advisory Council for Medical Assistance shall be established in the state

government. The council shall consist of twenty -two (22) members. The secretary

for health and family services shall be an ex officio member. The other twenty -one

(21) members of the council shall be appointed by the Governor and shall hold

office for a term of four (4) years and until their successors are a ppointed and

qualify, except that the members appointed to fill the first vacancy occurring for a

term beginning on July 1, 1960, shall be as follows: Two (2) members shall be

appointed for one (1) year, two (2) for two (2) years, two (2) for three (3) years, and

three (3) for four (4) years, and the respective terms of the first members shall be

designated by the Governor at the time of their appointments. Upon the expiration

of the respective terms of the members first appointed, the term of each successo r

shall be for four (4) years and until his successor is appointed and qualified.

Thirteen (13) of the appointments shall be made one (1) from each list of three (3)

nominees submitted by the following organizations: the Kentucky State Medical

Association; the Kentucky Dental Association; the Kentucky Hospital Association;

the Kentucky Medical Equipment Suppliers Association; the Kentucky Pharmacists

Association; the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities; the Kentucky

Nurses' Association; the State Board of Podiatry; the Kentucky Home Care

Association; the Kentucky Optometric Association; the Kentucky Primary Care

Association; the Kentucky Association of Hospice and Palliative Care; and the

Kentucky Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Inc. The other eight (8)

appointive members shall be healthcare advocates knowledgeable about health care

and the healthcare industry, and shall include three (3) medical assistance

recipients; one (1) representative of a recognized consumer advocacy group

representing the elderly; one (1) representative of a recognized consumer advocacy

group representing persons reentering society following incarceration; and three (3)

representatives of recognized consumer advocacy groups whose membership

includes low-income persons, children and youth, women, minorities, and disabled

persons.

(2) Each appointive member of the council shall serve without compensation but each

council member not otherwise compensated for his or her time or expenses shall be

entitled to reim bursement for his or her actual and necessary expenses in carrying

out his or her duties with reimbursement for expenses being made in accordance

with state regulations relating to travel reimbursement.

(3) Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as original

appointments, maintaining representations as set out in subsection (1) of this

section.

(4) The council shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, and secretary from among its

members at its first regular meeting in each fiscal y ear and shall adopt rules

governing its proceedings. The council shall hold a meeting at least once every three

(3) months and such other special or regular meetings as may be desired.

(5) The eight (8) appointive members who are healthcare advocates shall not have a

fiduciary relationship or interest in any health-care facility or service.