Ky.gov

Cabinet for Health and Family Services

SKY - Supporting Kentucky Youth

​Frequently Asked Questions

The Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services (DMS) has compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Supporting Kentucky Youth (SKY) Program to inform members, families, caregivers, providers and others about the new program. As needed, DMS will update or add new FAQs. Please check this page for the latest information. 

For more information about the SKY program, contact Aetna Better Health of Kentucky Member Services team toll free at (855) 300-5528 (TTY: 711) or visit the program website.

Member FAQs

A single statewide managed care organization, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, manages the Supporting Kentucky Youth program, also known as SKY. Children and foster care youth in out-of-home care, children receiving adoption assistance, youth who are dually involved, former foster care youth and Medicaid-eligible DJJ youth will be enrolled with Aetna for their Medicaid coverage.

The SKY program offers enhanced benefits to support members. A care coordination team is assigned to each member enrolled in SKY that ensures access to primary care, behavioral health services, dental care, specialty care, wraparound services and social support services. Level-of-care management provided by care coordination teams is tailored to meet the individual needs of each SKY member. The team also provides the following services:

  • Assistance locating providers and obtaining appointments as needed
  • Expedited scheduling for assessment appointments
  • Assistance coordinating covered transportation services
  • Arranging community supports referrals to community-based resources as necessary
  • A network of support specialists who share similar experiences to help families navigate the system and access benefits
  • Bonus benefits like cell phones, laptops and wireless plans for youth so they can maintain connections with their support systems.

Other value-added services for older youth in care are offered, such as:

  • GED certification and job skills training
  • Life skills program
  • Nutrition services

To support the transition from another managed care organization, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky collaborates with physicians and other providers to ensure continuity of care, especially for members with special heath care needs.

For more information about extra benefits, visit the Aetna Better Health SKY program website.

The following groups are enrolled in the SKY program:

  • Children in foster care
  • Children in out-of-home care placed with a fictive kin or relative caregiver, including out-of-state caregivers
  • Children receiving adoption assistance
  • Youth who are dually involved
  • Former foster care youth
  • Medicaid-eligible DJJ youth

The following may opt in or opt out of extra SKY program benefits and services at any time during the year:

  • Children receiving adoption assistance
  • Former foster care youth
  • Medicaid-eligible DJJ youth (not youth who are dually involved)

SKY Enrollment Exclusions

  • Members receiving Supports for Community Living, Michele P, Acquired Brain Injury, Home- and Community-Based or other Medicaid waivers are excluded from the SKY program.
  • Members receiving long-term care services also are excluded from the program.

Yes. All members eligible for the SKY program were automatically enrolled with Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, effective Jan. 1, 2021.

Children receiving adoption assistance, former foster care youth and Medicaid-eligible DJJ youth may opt in or opt out of the SKY program. If they elect to opt out of additional SKY program support and services, they may select another managed care organization participating in the Medicaid program or remain with Aetna Better Health of Kentucky as a non-SKY member. Managed care organizations include:

Aetna Better Health of Kentucky (non-SKY program)

  • Anthem BCBS
  • Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky
  • Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare
  • UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kentucky
  • WellCare of Kentucky

Children receiving adoption assistance, former foster care youth and Medicaid-eligible DJJ youth may opt out of the SKY program for any reason at any time (requests may take up to 90 days). These members may remain with Aetna Better Health of Kentucky or choose another Medicaid managed care organization to manage their Medicaid benefits. To opt out of the SKY program, contact Medicaid member services toll free at (800) 635-2570 or log on to the Medicaid self-service portal at kynect. These SKY-eligible youth may opt back into the SKY program at any time by following the process described in a previous listing in this FAQ.

Aetna Better Health of Kentucky provides SKY members with a new member packet that includes the Aetna Better Health of Kentucky Member Handbook and the SKY Member information Companion Guide. These explain how the SKY program works, what services and supports are available and the roles of primary care providers, dental providers and Aetna care coordination teams.

SKY members, foster and adoptive parents or other caregivers should contact Aetna Better Health of Kentucky Member Services team toll free at (855) 300-5528. View the SKY Member Handbook and Companion Guide online.

Family, foster parents, adoptive parents, fictive kin and relative caregivers, other foster care caregivers and former foster care youth can contact Aetna Better Health of Kentucky Member Services team toll free at (855) 300-5528 (TTY: 711) or visit the Aetna website to make sure their provider is included in the network.

If a provider does not participate, Aetna can reach out to the provider or the provider can contact Aetna.

Aetna does not require a referral, so a member can see any Aetna provider. To request that a non-participating provider be listed as a member’s primary care provider, call the Aetna Member Services team toll free at (855) 300-5528 (TTY: 711).

Each eligible SKY member receives an Aetna Better Health of Kentucky Member ID card in the mail. The first date the member may receive services is on the Member ID card.

Starting July 1, 2021, MedImpact is the Pharmacy Benefit Manager, or PBM, for members enrolled in the SKY program. 

The following Information is included on the Aetna Better Health Member ID card:

  • Member name
  • Date of birth
  • Member ID/state Medicaid ID number
  • Name and phone number of primary care provide
  • Effective date of coverage
  • Name and phone number of dental provider
 

For additional information on SKY Member ID cards or If you do not receive a SKY Member ID card, call Aetna Better Health of Kentucky Member Services team toll free at (855) 300-5528 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. You also may view your Member ID card on the Aetna mobile app.

SKY member ID cards that are lost or stolen or need to be reissued to change the member’s name or primary care physician may receive a card replacement by following these steps:

  • Print a duplicate ID card from the Aetna portal
  • View the ID card on the mobile app
  • Call Aetna Member Services to request a new ID card
  • Contact the SKY care coordinator for assistance

Aetna will reissue a Member ID card within five days of the request.

Online access to member information through FamilyConnect is restricted to authorized SKY members, including former foster youth, some justice-involved youth and SKY members receiving adoption assistance. All other SKY members or their caregivers may phone Member Services toll free at (855) 300-5528 (TTY: 711) for help. Log-in access

Members and providers can contact MedImpact 24 hours a day, seven days a week with questions. The MedImpact Call Center number is (800) 210-7228 (TTY: 711). The Prior Authorixation (PA) Call Center is available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. Determinations of PA requests are made within 24 hours of receipt. The PA Call Center number is (844) 336-2676. All of MedImpact's call center numbers are on the back of the member ID card. If a member's prescription needed a prior approval, a new one is not needed until the current prior approval expires. 

SKY members in foster care will not change social service worker assignments when enrolled with Aetna Better Health of Kentucky. Aetna care managers will not assume the role of DCBS or private agency care managers but will serve as additional resources providing support. Aetna care managers have specific health benefit and managed care expertise to help coordinate benefits. Aetna care managers can participate in team meetings and work to ensure each member’s needs are met.

Aetna Better Health of Kentucky will contact SKY members, foster or adoptive parents and other caregivers after the member’s enrollment in Aetna. The care manager’s name and contact information will be mailed and the assigned care manager will reach out by phone to introduce themselves and begin coordinating services so there will be no lapse in current medical care.

For additional information, contact Aetna Better Health of Kentucky Member Services team toll free at (855) 300-5528.

Yes. Aetna Better Health of Kentucky conducts virtual informational sessions and offers other opportunities to learn more. You can check the calendar on its website for upcoming events.

Provider FAQs

​At this time, you do not need to do anything if you are already enrolled with Aetna. You are encouraged to learn more about the personalized care management and bonus benefits of the SKY program.

Maintaining an established relationship with SKY children and youth ensures continuity of care as SKY members access all the extra supports and services the SKY program offers.

If you are a current Aetna provider, no action is needed. All participating Aetna Better Health of Kentucky providers are eligible to see SKY members under existing contracts.

Providers can contact Aetna Network Relations toll free at (855) 454-0061 or by email at KY Provider Relations to begin the enrollment process.

New practitioners who want to join the Aetna network first must complete the provider nomination form. The Aetna contracting team will provide support in completing the contracting packet. All practitioners must have an effective Kentucky Medicaid ID number to participate with Aetna.

Additional information can be found on the Aetna provider website


​SKY Definitions

As you review the FAQs, please refer to these definitions

The program that provides financial and Medicaid benefits to families who adopt children with special needs up to 18 years of age. Continued adoption assistance applies regardless of the child’s state of residence.
An adult who provides a child a permanent home through a court process that names the adoptive parent as the child’s legal parent.
The agency in the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services that determines program and services eligibility and manages the foster care and adoption assistance programs.
The agency in the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet responsible for prevention programs for at-risk youth in the commonwealth, including court intake, residential placement and treatment services, probation, community aftercare and reintegration programs as well as confinement of youth awaiting adult placement or court.
A youth in the care of both DJJ and DCBS.
People not related to a child by birth, marriage or adoption who have an emotionally significant relationship with the child. These individuals take on the role of family and/or an alternate caregiver.
24-hour temporary care for children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom DCBS has placement and care responsibility.
The DCBS-authorized caretaker for a child in foster care who may be the foster parent(s), relative(s), fictive kin or 24-hour childcare facility staff.
A caregiver who assumes the daily caretaking responsibilities for children placed in their home by DCBS.
Adults younger than 26 who were in foster care at age 18 or older.
Youth in DJJ care who meet the eligibility requirement for Medicaid.
Placement of children in foster care in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives or fictive kin, group homes, residential facilities, childcare institutions and pre-adoptive homes.
The person related to a child by blood including a relative of half-blood, marriage or adoption. A relative caregiver is responsible for the primary care of the child.

Aetna Better Health of Kentucky Contact Information

For Members
Member Services: (855) 300-5528 
Provider Services: (855) 300-5528 
24-hour Nurse Line: (855) 620-3924 
24-hour Behavioral Health Crisis Line: (888) 604-6106 

Prior Authorization Contacts

Physical Health Authorization Fax: (833) 689-1422 
Physical Health Concurrent Reviews Fax: (833) 689-1423
Behavioral Health Authorization Fax: (833) 689-1424 

Pharmacy Contacts:

Pharmacy Phone: (855) 300-5528 
Pharmacy Fax: (855) 799-2550 

SKY Provider Relations  

To join the Aetna Better Health of Kentucky provider network, call toll free (855) 454-0061 or email Kentucky Provider Relations

Helpful Websites and Email Addresses 

Printable FAQs
Aetna Better Health
Case Management Email
Provider Directory
Provider Portal
Member Handbook and SKY Companion Guide

Additional Information

Contact Information

 

Related Agencies