{Lexington, Kentucky}...Coventry Cares and Appalachian Regional Healthcare were in court in Lexington Tuesday for a hearing on whether Coventry has an adequate network without ARH to meet the medical needs of 25,000 eastern Kentucky Medicaid patients. After Coventry said it would sever its contract with ARH, the hospital filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Lexington, and Coventry agreed to continue its contract until June 30th while renegotiating for long-term coverage. Testimony at Tuesday's hearing centered on the method by which Coventry determined that its members would have an adequate network at hospitals and other health care providers within 60 minutes' driving time of their homes without ARH. Stephen Amato, an attorney for Coventry, says by no means should anyone conclude that Coventry is not committed to giving the members full access to health care. Christina Heavrin, an attorney for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said Tuesday that Coventry's network was adequate without ARH. U.S. Senior Judge Karl S. Forester did not make a ruling, but he asked both sides to submit proposed findings to the court by Thursday.
