Recently, a federal judge halted implementation of Kentucky’s 1115 Medicaid Waiver, also known as Kentucky HEALTH. Since then, there’s been a fair amount of confusion and questions among Medicaid-eligible recipients, health providers, and advocates. When it comes to any issue – and that includes Kentucky HEALTH – Kentucky Youth Advocates asks the same essential question, “Is it good for kids?” Read more in our recent statement here. Conversations continue between the Bevin Administration and the [...]

As child advocates, we are counting on you to raise your voice and submit public comments to CMS on the Bevin Administration’s 1115 Medicaid Waiver by August 18th. Recently, a federal judge halted implementation of the Bevin Administration’s 1115 Medicaid Waiver, also known as Kentucky HEALTH. The Bevin Administration is seeking re-approval of Kentucky HEALTH by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) before it can be implemented. CMS has opened an additional 30-day public [...]

In January the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the Bevin Administration’s 1115 Medicaid Waiver to modify Kentucky’s Medicaid program for the next five years, known as Kentucky HEALTH. We at Kentucky Youth Advocates believe Kentucky HEALTH’s initial rollout and ongoing implementation must be family-centric. Parents’ health coverage is vitally important to children’s health coverage, and if parents are going to maintain coverage to improve health outcomes for themselves and their children, [...]

Health impacts every aspect of a child’s life and is one of the most important components of overall child well-being. As the Kentucky legislature faces tough decisions in crafting the next biennial state budget in coming months, it’s imperative that we as a Commonwealth ensure that the more than one million Kentucky children have access to the support they need for their healthy development. Kentucky kids rely on vital state programs, such as HANDS, KCHIP, Medicaid, [...]