Author
Deborah Yetter
A new day in abortion politics, even in deep red Kentucky?
Standing before cheering supporters on election night, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, wrapped up his reelection celebration with a round of thanks. “First to my parents,” he said, embracing Jane and Steve Beshear — his father himself a former, two-term governor. Andy Beshear, who defeated his Republican opponent, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, with about […]
Health care choices narrow for Kentuckians in Medicare Advantage plans
LOUISVILLE — With open enrollment underway, older Americans are getting barraged with television ads, mailings and online notices hawking a variety of Medicare Advantage plans for health coverage. But many Kentuckians, including thousands of state retirees, are largely captive customers with such plans selected by their employer as part of health coverage promised for those […]
Legislature’s curbs on Louisville school board unconstitutional, appeals court rules
The Kentucky Court of Appeals has rejected a 2022 state law aimed at curbing powers of the Jefferson County school board because it singles out the school district for special treatment, which the judges said violates Kentucky’s Constitution.? The decision could hamper efforts by Republicans who control the General Assembly and who have been highly […]
Reprieve for Kentucky’s independent pharmacies is saving Medicaid millions
Pharmacist Joel Thornbury said his role is far more than filling prescriptions at the NOVA Pharmacy he owns in Pikeville — he’s a readily accessible source of health services and advice in his community. “When you call me, you get me,” said Thornbury, a third-generation pharmacist in practice for more than 30 years. “I see […]
‘Bad teeth cause life-threatening infections’ — push to expand Medicaid dental benefits continues
Around 400 patients per week, most covered by Medicaid, flood the University of Kentucky’s dental clinic seeking care they can’t find elsewhere for advanced tooth decay or other oral disease. Some are in such critical condition they must be airlifted to UK, Dr. Melvyn Yeoh, the university’s chairman of oral health science, recently told a […]
Would dividing JCPS sacrifice diversity? Republican lawmaker, school board member disagree
As Kentucky’s Republican legislators step up pressure on Jefferson County Public Schools, the Louisville Forum on Wednesday hosted a debate between Rep. Jason Nemes, a Louisville Republican and an outspoken JCPS critic, and Corrie Shull, the school board’s vice chairman. The discussion — focused on GOP lawmakers’ interest in overhauling Kentucky’s largest school system and […]
Surprise! You’ve lost your Medicaid
Some patients find out they’ve been dropped from Medicaid when they come in to pick up a prescription. Others, when they arrive for a doctor’s appointment at one of the Family Health Centers’ Louisville clinics. And some are struggling to cope with paperwork or documentation required to prove eligibility for Medicaid under new rules that […]
GOP lawmakers cite ‘proper’ procedure as KY dental school deans plea for compassion
Working at a public “safety net” dental clinic in rural Western Kentucky, Dr. Pamela Stein routinely saw a heartbreaking sight. “It was not unusual at 6 o’clock in the morning to see 10 or 15 people standing in line waiting to get in because they had tooth aches, because they couldn’t find anyone else to […]
Court fight raises doubts about Cameron’s commitment to transparency
Denied records it sought in 2020 from Attorney General Daniel Cameron about a Ballot Integrity Task Force he co-chairs, American Oversight, a national advocacy group, pressed on. And that set up an ongoing legal battle that open records advocates say was unnecessary and shows Cameron is unwilling to release even the most routine documents related […]
Cameron accused of trying to ‘scare patients out of obtaining abortions’
Calling it “a disgusting overreach of government authority,” Planned Parenthood officials in Kentucky are denouncing an effort by Republican attorneys general to block a federal expansion of medical privacy protections for patients who seek reproductive care. The rule change proposed by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department would enhance protections for patients who seek […]
Legislative hearing on Medicaid dental expansion canceled
A public hearing on Gov. Andy Beshear’s plan to have Medicaid cover more dental, vision and hearing services for adults scheduled Friday, July 14, has been canceled. The hearing by the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee was to have been held at 1 p.m. in Frankfort for comments on Beshear’s plan that expands Medicaid to pay […]
Hearing on Kentucky Medicaid dental, vision, hearing services rescheduled for Friday
A public hearing on Gov. Andy Beshear’s plan to have Medicaid cover more dental, vision and hearing services for adults has been rescheduled from Thursday, July 13, to Friday, July 14. The hearing by the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee will be held at 1 p.m. July 14 in Frankfort at the Capitol Annex in Room […]