Bill safeguarding parental rights of Kentuckians with disabilities clears another hurdle
FRANKFORT — A bill that would ensure Kentuckians cannot have parental rights removed or adoption petitions denied solely based on disability is almost to the legislative finish line.
Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Storm, R-London, passed the House Families and Children Committee unanimously Thursday morning.
Disability alone could not cost Kentuckians parental rights, chance to adopt if bill becomes law
Family Court Judge Marcus Vanover, a member of Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health (KJCMH) and chief circuit judge in Lincoln, Pulaski and Rockcastle counties, cited case law that shows 'the need for change in Kentucky and to ensure that individuals with disabilities are not being wrongfully discriminated against on the sole basis of the disability.'
A 2022 Kentucky Supreme Court order established the commission, which 'is charged with exploring, recommending and implementing transformational changes to improve system wide responses to justice-involved individuals experiencing mental health needs, substance use, and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities,' according to the Kentucky Court of Justice.
This bill was a recommendation from the commission. It's already passed the Senate, where it originated. Now it can go to the House floor for a vote. If it passes there, it heads to Gov. Andy Beshear's desk for a signature or veto
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6 days ago
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Think Kentucky Medicaid cuts won't affect you? Think again.
Nearly 1 in 3 Kentuckians are covered by Medicaid, the federal-state insurance program for low-income Americans. If you're not among them, you probably think you won't be affected by the big bill that the Republican Congress passed for President Trump. Think again. You are likely to be hurt by it, because Medicaid has become such an essential part of Kentucky's health-care system. If you've heard anything about Medicaid in the big bill, it's probably the 'work requirement' for able-bodied adults without dependent children to spend 80 hours a month working, performing community service, going to school at least half-time or a combination of those activities. When Republican Matt Bevin was governor of Kentucky, he tried to impose such rules, but a federal judge in Washington said no, and while Bevin was appealing in 2019 he was ousted by Democrat Andy Beshear, who scuttled the plan. Drafting of the new national plan was overseen by 2nd District Rep. Brett Guthrie of Bowling Green, as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He said on X that the panel 'made sure that able-bodied Americans who get free health care, if they're able to work, work for it, like every other American has to get up and go to work every day for their health care. It's only fair that people who are able to work, do work.' That argument appeals to Americans who have at least a mild resentment of people who get something from the government by doing little or nothing. But in practice, work requirements have saved money mainly by disqualifying Medicaid beneficiaries who fail to document their qualifying activities or otherwise fall short on paperwork. That happened in the only such program that was fully implemented, in Arkansas, and projections for the Kentucky program predicted likewise. Republicans in the General Assembly will try to solve that problem, said state Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, co-chair of the legislature's Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board. 'Nobody should be cut off because of a paperwork error,' she said on KET's 'Kentucky Tonight' Monday. She said legislators will 'ask some really hard questions' about 'how to proceed in this new world order,' and try to improve beneficiaries' health. Medicaid cuts likely will force rural hospitals to cut services or close The work requirement was the most-cited reason that the big bill would lead to closure of many rural hospitals, by reducing the number of Medicaid beneficiaries and thus the revenue on which most hospitals depend. But in Kentucky, the bill's biggest effect on hospitals will be more direct, and it seems likely to force many of them to cut back on services or even close. The bill wipes out most of a funding scheme that the legislature has used to help Kentucky hospitals: Raise the 'provider taxes' they pay, use the money as a state match for federal funds, and use the windfall to increase hospitals' Medicaid payments, which usually don't cover the cost of care. Some senators called that 'money laundering,' and the Senate limited it. The House passed the revised bill under deadline pressure from Trump. Opinion: Kentucky depends heavily on federal funding. Trump's cuts will be devastating. The change made the Kentucky Hospital Association withdraw its support for the bill. The Senate added a $50 billion fund to help hospitals, and that will bring Kentucky hospitals at least $100 million a year. But the state's rural hospitals are getting $1 billion a year from the current provider-tax scheme, 'so $100 million is not gonna cut it,' KHA President Nancy Galvagni said on 'Kentucky Tonight.' She told a legislative committee in January that without the scheme, Kentucky hospitals would be operating at a 6 percent negative margin. Kentucky may lose the most from Trump's big bill Kentucky is one of the states that may lose the most from the big bill. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that the state will get $25 billion less in federal Medicaid money from 2028 to 2037, a decrease of 17%. Most of the hurt will be on rural hospitals; based on the number that get 'disproportionate share payments' because they are so Medicaid-dependent, Kentucky will have more rural hospitals at risk of closure than any other state. Opinion: McConnell, KY has too much to lose if Medicaid is cut. We won't 'get over it.' Just how much Kentucky stands to lose is an open question, because Democrats use worst-case scenarios, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has a sketchy record of predicting the effects of health-care legislation, and most Republicans don't want to talk about it. Guthrie didn't respond to repeated requests for an interview, and Sen. Mitch McConnell said of his complaining constituents, 'They'll get over it.' Not if their hospital closes or drastically reduces its services. However, the big bill may have little immediate political impact, because the work requirement doesn't take effect until 2027 and the Medicaid funding changes are set for 2028. Congress and the legislature could ease the blow, especially for hospitals, which have a strong lobby. But who lobbies for the poor? And do legislators listen? Al Cross is professor emeritus of journalism at the University of Kentucky and a former political writer for The Courier Journal. The NKyTribune is the home for his commentary, which is offered to other publications with appropriate credit. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Medicaid cuts from Trump's big bill may hit Kentucky hardest | Opinion Solve the daily Crossword
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McConnell, KY has too much to lose if Medicaid is cut. We won't 'get over it.'
No, Sen. McConnell, people who need health care aren't going to 'get over it.' The stakes are far too high for such a dismissive response about proposed cuts to Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office estimates these changes could leave nearly 11 million Americans uninsured by 2034. These aren't abstract budget decisions. This legislation will have dire consequences for families, communities, and the providers that serve them. Kentucky has more hospitals at risk of closure than any other state, according to the Sheps Center for Health Service Research at the University of North Carolina. With proposed Medicaid reductions threatening up to $1.3 billion in lost federal funding, as many as 35 hospitals could close, many of them in regions that are already underserved. That kind of loss isn't just a health-care crisis; it's an economic one. According to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, these cuts could result in 12,100 fewer jobs and $98 million less in state tax revenue, with ripple effects on education, infrastructure and public safety. Medicaid expansion has been one of the most impactful health policy decisions in our state's history, with Kentucky's uninsured rate falling from 14.5% in 2013 to 5.6% in 2023. This coverage has meant improved access to cancer treatment, preventive care, lifesaving medications, and mental health and addiction recovery services. It's helped stabilize rural hospitals, improve health outcomes, decrease racial disparities in coverage, and reduce medical debt. Now, all of that is at risk. And for what? Opinion: McConnell wants KY coal miners to 'get over' Medicaid cuts closing their hospitals Medicaid cuts in Kentucky will hit kids, elderly and people with disabilities Proponents claim these cuts target waste, fraud and abuse. However, the legislation does nothing to rein in drug prices, stop corporate price gouging or address the administrative inefficiencies that drive up costs. Instead, it strips care away from people with the least resources while giving tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations. Medicaid is vital in Kentucky. It covers roughly a third of the state's population, including: 68% of nursing home residents 46% of Kentucky children 51% of working-age adult Kentuckians living with disabilities Medicaid also plays a critical role in our fight against addiction. Kentucky has one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the country, and Medicaid is the largest payer of substance use disorder treatment. Cutting Medicaid would mean fewer detox beds, less access to counseling and longer waits for recovery services at a time when families can't afford to wait. Beyond Medicaid, other provisions in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' threaten to destabilize the ACA Marketplace, where 24 million Americans, many of them self-employed or small business owners, purchase coverage. Failing to extend enhanced subsidies could cause an additional 4 million Americans to become uninsured, leading to higher premiums and reduced benefits for those who remain. Letters: McConnell got caught telling a truth he didn't want us to know about Cutting Medicaid services for Planned Parenthood, other providers is alarming As an OBGYN who spent her clinical career promoting gynecologic health, I am dismayed by the bill's intent to prohibit Medicaid funding for nonprofit essential community providers, such as Planned Parenthood clinics, for 10 years. I am further alarmed by the Supreme Court's ruling that will allow states to withhold Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood. This money pays for contraception and screening services, such as pap smears, for primarily low-income patients. It almost never funds abortion; it simply helps those who do not desire or cannot afford to have children avoid unplanned pregnancies, keeps people from getting cancer, and helps people to be healthy so that they can be productive members of society. Bills such as this 'save' money by denying care. Going without medication, heart surgery or cancer treatment costs payers less. Is that the answer? I say NO. Health care is not a luxury. It is a human right. Legislation that makes health care more expensive or difficult to access is morally and ethically wrong. It says that those in power determine who gets care and who doesn't, who lives and who dies. Kentuckians don't need to 'get over it.' We need to demand a system that protects every one of us, before more hospitals close and more lives are lost. Agree or disagree? Submit a letter to the editor. Susan G. Bornstein, MD, MPH, is an OBGYN by training. She became so frustrated with the challenges that many of her patients faced with cost and access to care that she returned to school for a master's degree in public health. In 2021, she founded The Asclepius Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: McConnell's Medicaid dismissal will save money, not Kentucky | Opinion Solve the daily Crossword
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We lead UofL Health. Medicaid cuts threaten lives, jobs and Kentucky's future
Federal Medicaid Cuts Threaten Kentucky's Health Care System — and Its FutureBy Gerry Bradley, UofL Health Board Chair and Jason Smith, MD, Interim CEO, UofL Health As the leaders of one of Kentucky's academic health systems, we have the privilege — and the responsibility — of witnessing firsthand how health care shapes lives, strengthens families and sustains communities. At UofL Health, we care for patients from every walk of life, many of whom rely on Medicaid for access to care. We also train the next generation of physicians — preparing them not only to treat illness, but to lead with compassion and innovation. That dual mission is now under threat. Recent Medicaid cuts passed by Congress, and signed by the president, present an alarming future for Kentucky's health care system. Some cuts will happen quickly, with the most severe cuts starting in 2028. With the implementation of this legislation, we expect to see access to care reduced, thousands of jobs eliminated and a deepening of the state's already dire physician shortage. Hospitals and clinics will close, people who could have been saved will die The Medicaid funding in this legislation falls far below the actual cost of providing care. Hospitals, clinics and physician practices — particularly those in rural and underserved urban areas — will be forced to close or cut back services just to survive. Kentucky already ranks among the least healthy states in the country. This legislation would only widen the gap between need and access. Additionally, as locations close, travel times and wait time will rise as access issues impact those who are not even part of the Medicaid system. Diagnoses will be delayed for all Kentuckians. Conditions will worsen, care will become even more costly as diseases advance and people who could have been saved will die. Opinion: McConnell, KY has too much to lose if Medicaid is cut. We won't 'get over it.' But the impact doesn't stop there. To match the services that remain, health care systems across Kentucky will be forced to make difficult decisions about staffing. The Kentucky Hospital Association has estimated a loss of 33,000 health care jobs — more than one-third of our state's health care workforce. The ripple effects on local economies and families would be severe. More importantly, the loss of skilled professionals will leave patients with fewer places to turn, fewer hands to help and fewer experts to trust in moments of critical need. Medicaid cuts will add to doctor shortages And then there's the future. By 2036, the U.S. is already bracing for a shortfall of 86,000 physicians. In Kentucky, where shortages are even more acute, we cannot afford policies that make it harder to train doctors and other health professionals. Yet these Medicaid cuts would do just that — reducing funding for residency slots and stifling opportunities for physicians, nurses and countless more clinicians who want to serve rural and underserved communities. As an academic health system, UofL Health plays a critical role in supporting these communities by training and deploying physicians, nurses and other providers equipped to provide care closer to home. Without a strong health care workforce, both access to life-changing care and innovation of new treatments will suffer. These aren't just budget cuts. They are cuts affecting people's lives, their livelihoods and their hopes for a healthier tomorrow. Opinion: Think Kentucky Medicaid cuts won't affect you? Think again. We have dedicated countless hours working with members of Congress and their staffs, helping them understand the deep and lasting consequences these Medicaid cuts will have on Kentucky families. But despite our efforts, the final version of the legislation is worse than we feared. Calling it 'drastic' is an understatement. These changes threaten to upend health care in Kentucky for generations to come. Still, we are not giving up. We will continue to fight for Medicaid policy and funding that is right and just – for our commonwealth, our people and our future. We remain committed to reversing this harm and restoring the kind of support that builds a healthier Kentucky. Health care is not just an expense line — it is the foundation of strong communities. Let's treat it that way. Tell us what you think: Submit your letter to the editor here Gerry Bradley is the UofL Health board chair, and Jason Smith, MD, is interim CEO of UofL Health. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Medicaid cuts threaten Kentucky's health care system | Opinion Solve the daily Crossword
