By Rebecca Feldhaus/KPR
Frankfort, KY – The bill is reported to help states defray the cost of Medicaid at a time when most are struggling to close huge budget gaps. But Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services program spokesperson Vikki Franklin says the amount Congress allocated for Kentucky may not cover it.
"Unfortunately, less money is provided through the bill for Medicaid than our General Assembly counted on. However, because the Senate combined both Medicaid and education in this measure, it's not clear at this point exactly how that money will impact the overall state budget."
Franklin says part of the measure will be funded by accelerating the return of federal food stamp funding to pre-stimulus levels. But she says it isn't clear how that might affect the nearly 360,000 households in Kentucky now receiving those benefits.