New legislator from Northern Ky. hopes to apply background as nurse and state anti-drug officer to her work in General Assembly

A registered nurse who has been Northern Kentucky director for the state Office of Drug Control Policy is among the newly elected Republicans who now rule the state House. Kim Moser hopes to "pass meaningful health-related legislation," Don Weber reports for CN|2's "Pure Politics."

Kim Moser of Taylor Mill "believes that her background as a nurse will help her be an effective leader," Weber reports. She has already "worked with legislators to pass legislation to combat the opioid epidemic. Moser wants to continue to work, this time as a member of the House, to pass meaningful legislation to combat heroin use. Moser said it’s imperative to fully prosecute the hardcore traffickers while trying to help users who are buying small amounts to sustain their habits."

“Those are the folks that we need to get out of the cycle of relapse and recidivism and really get into treatment,” Moser told Weber. “Treatment does work. It’s not always the first time that it works and that’s just a symptom of the disease of addiction.”

Moser was also named chair of the House and Senate's joint Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee, often a public forum for debate about the program, especially after Gov. Matt Bevin's plan to reshape it, which is awaiting federal approval.

Moser represents House District 64.

She told Weber, “I am a nurse and practice neonatal intensive care and flight nursing over the years, and so I do understand some of the issues in and around Medicaid.”

Moser replaces Republican Tom Kerr of Taylor Mill, who retired after 32 years in the House. She represents parts of suburban Kenton and Campbell counties.