Kentucky telehealth payment parity can be contractually waived, and audio-only is paid at the lower rate

Kentucky law mandates telehealth reimbursement equivalent to in-person care, but explicitly permits providers and plans to contractually agree to a lower telehealth rate, weakening the parity protection. For Medicaid, when a telephonic code exists, reimbursement defaults to the lower of the two rates. These provisions let payers pay less for telehealth and especially for audio-only visits, disadvantaging patients who rely on phone-based care.

Source: Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP), Kentucky state telehealth page (2026).