Former Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has started an education and advocacy campaign called Save Kentucky Healthcare. The campaign says it will work on a grassroots level to inform Kentuckians of the impacts of dismantling key parts of Kentucky's health reform.
The campaign comes in response to current governor Matt Bevin’s plan to dismantle Kynect, the state’s health insurance exchange. Kynect has helped more than 500,000 Kentuckians find health insurance.
Beshear says Bevin is ignoring ‘a mountain of evidence’ that suggests Kynect and expanded Medicaid are successful and sustainable. Bevin spokeswoman Jessica Ditto says otherwise.
“This program resulted in a $128 million shortfall in this current fiscal year. There’s no way that it pays for itself. And Governor Bevin is focused on creating a transformative healthcare program that is affordable, sustainable, and ensures that improves health outcomes,” Ditto said.
Ditto says Bevin’s administration is working to transition Kentuckians to the federal health insurance exchange by November of this year. She says the administration is working closely with the federal government to ensure a smooth transition.
