Issue Position: Affordable Health Care for Kentucky's Working Families
Issue Position
Every Kentuckian wants access to quality health care, regardless of if they live in a rural or urban community. It is essential for children to receive a healthy foundation in life and for adults to lead happy, productive lives. Unfortunately, many Kentuckians face overwhelming barriers that prevent them from receiving the care they need, including ever-increasing costs. And of course, the current national recession has put too many basic necessities out of reach for too many hard-working Kentucky families.
Governor Steve Beshear has worked to expand access to health care to Kentuckians in every corner of the state. He reduced barriers to care and pushed for critical infrastructure to improve care in the Commonwealth.
Helped Kentucky children get the health care they need to succeed, by reducing barriers to the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program and intensifying outreach. His efforts have led to 52,000 more children getting the coverage they need. In addition, he signed legislation eliminating the requirement for parents to pay monthly premiums to ensure KCHIP coverage for their child.
Implemented the Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program, which has helped nearly 18,000 Kentuckians secure $62.2 million in prescription drugs by tapping into assistance programs run by many drug companies.
Unveiled the Kentucky Oral Health Plan, an initiative aimed at improving children's access to dental care in counties overseen by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The plan will train local dentists in effective oral health practices, tailor programs for individual communities and provide portable dental equipment to be used at schools and child-care facilities.
Joined the National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation, an innovative national effort to curb smoking by providing smokers with resources specifically designed to help those struggling with quitting the habit. Additionally, Beshear has worked to help Kentuckians give up smoking and tobacco use by allowing for Medicaid recipients to be eligible for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products and tobacco cessation medications and by allowing the Kentucky Tobacco Quit Line to offer counseling services to younger Kentuckians.
Beshear's leadership on this issue gives Kentuckians the access they need and the care they deserve.
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