Kentucky Revised Statutes Title XVII. Economic Security and Public Welfare § 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 appointed 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 successor 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 reimbursement 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 year 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.