KCEP Director Jason Bailey made the following statement today about Governor Beshear’s announcement that he will accept the Medicaid expansion:
“Governor Beshear’s decision today to expand Medicaid will increase the health of Kentuckians and strengthen the foundation of our economy. It will allow hundreds of thousands of our neighbors the dignity and security of health care coverage, improving quality of life and allowing Kentucky to make much-needed progress on our poor indicators of health.
The governor’s move will mean coverage for around half of the state's uninsured adults, including workers who toil at low-wage jobs in restaurants, construction sites, nursing homes and day care centers, as well as 9,500 uninsured veterans. It will also allow the state to take advantage of a great deal, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in new income to health care providers that will translate into jobs for nurses and health practitioners across the state. The expansion is a great step toward a healthier state and a stronger Commonwealth.”