Mostly along partisan lines, legislature overrides governor's veto of bill that would ban gender-affirming care to minors in Kentucky

Nineteen protesters opposing Senate Bill 150 in the gallery were arrested as the House voted to overrode the veto of a bill to ban gender-affirming care for Kentucky's youth. (Photo by Melissa Patrick)

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Republicans in the Kentucky House and Senate voted Wednesday to override Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of Senate Bill 150, which bans gender-affirming care for trans youth and sets rules around how issues of sexuality should be addressed in schools. 

The Senate voted 29-8 to override the veto, with one Republican voting against the override and one Democrat changing her vote. Soon after, the House voted 76-23 for the override, with four Republicans voting against the measure and one Democrat voting for it. 

Protesters were chanting loudly from the halls while the Senate overrode the veto. In the House,  protesters in the galley yelled, "Henry, Zachee -- they should be with us today." 

This chant was in reference to Sen. Karen Berg's 24-year-old transgender son, Henry, who died by suicide in December and the shooting death of a Louisville transgender woman, Zachee Imanitwitaho. 

Kentucky State Police arrested 19 of the protesters, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. 

"KSP gave each individual the option to leave without any enforcement action or be placed under arrest,” Capt. Paul Blanton, a KSP spokesperson, told the Herald-Leader in a prepared statement.

Earlier that morning, hundreds of LGBTQ+ youth and their supporters rallied to ask the lawmakers to not override Beshear's veto. 

Before being removed, the protesters in the House were so loud that it was difficult to hear the lawmakers explaining their "no" votes during the veto override, even with their efforts to be heard. 

Senate Bill 150, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, would ban gender-affirming treatment for Kentuckians under 18, including surgeries and puberty-blocking hormones, even if parents want the treatment for their children.

It would bar schools from requiring teachers to use a transgender student's preferred pronouns, keep trans students from using bathrooms that fit their gender identity, and bans instruction that explores "gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation," among other sex-education requirements.

Wise focused his comments on the school-related requirements, with little said about the bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth. 

"The goal is to strengthen parental engagement and communication in children's education while protecting the safety of our children," he said while explaining the bill on the Senate floor. 

“I’ve had countless number of people coming up to me from both sides of the aisle to say, ‘Thank you for standing up for common sense. Thank you for standing up and being willing to stand in that gap, to be willing to take whatever it is thrown our way,’’ Wise said on the Senate floor while explaining the bill. “If it’s hit jobs from newspaper activists, if it is for standing up for parents, for those that do not show up here in committee meetings to testify because they’re working and because they are also dependent upon us in a representative democracy, that we can make common sense decisions here that protect our children.”

Berg opened her remarks by reading the words her son, Henry Berg-Brousseau, wrote for the Human Rights Campaign that was published the day before he took his life.  

"To say this is a bill protecting children is completely disingenuous. And to call this a parent rights bill is an absolute despicable affront to me personally," she said. "We are denying families their physicians and their therapists the right to make medically informed decisions for their families. Not a single reputable society, National Medical Society in this country, supports what we are doing today. The data at this point is unequivocal.  The misinformation is appalling. Appalling that you allow this information to stand." 

Sen. Danny Carroll of Benton was the only Republican to vote against the measure. He said it was an "uncomfortable place to be" to go against his entire caucus, but he was convinced it was the right thing to do, later adding that if having access to puberty-blocking hormones saved just one child's life, they should be available to them. 

"My fear and my no vote is for those kids that are being left you Those kids that may be contemplating suicide, that may need to delay puberty, that that could have a huge impact on them. We're taking away an option that a family that a doctor would have -- we're not doctors, with the exception of a couple of us, we're not doctors, I trust them to make the right decisions when they are dealing with those kids in those specific instances." 

Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, voted initially voted in favor of the bill but said after further "reflection and evaluation" she voted against voting to override Beshear's veto of SB 150. Over and again, she called the bill a "bad product." She said there were parts of the bill that she could support and that the amendment offered by Carroll that was not called up for a vote was " a rational solution and a much better product." Further, she said the bill had "legitimate constitutional issues" and contradictions. 

"This discussion is not over," she said. "We will get to revisit this I'm sure once it gets through the courts. And I'm going to serve with the senator from McCracken in making sure that we achieve what the intention of this legislation is and to better perfect the provisions of it that I personally support." 

While explaining his "yes" vote, Sen. Chris McDaniel, R- Ryland Heights, said, "The bill is intended to balance the needs and desires of families with children who are following a conventional path of human sexuality, while making reasonable accommodations for those who have a different path." Later adding that the bill strives for a balance for all citizens "while protecting the rights of the minority, while respecting the will of the majority." 

It is unclear what majority McDaniel is referring to. A Mason-Dixon poll by the Fairness Campaign, a pro-LGBTQ+ rights advocacy group that paid for the poll question, showed 71 percent of respondents oppose laws letting state leaders overrule parents' wishes for gender-affirming care for their child.

In the House, 16  of the 20 Democrats stood to passionately explain their "no" votes, as there was no discussion allowed on the measure before the vote because of the protesters. No one stood to explain their yes vote. 

"This is dangerous policy, passed by poor process, supported by junk science," said Josie Raymond, D-Louisville, ""We should not override this veto." 

Minority Leader Derrick Graham of Frankfort said, "Over my 21 years, this is the worst bill I've had to vote for on this floor. . . .  For over 40 years, you want limited government, you want local control, you believe in individual responsibilities, and government intervention is not the real answer to solving our problems. Well, all of those four things that I just went off and talked about, you've done. You've invaded on the rights of the parents, you've invaded on the rights of the individuals who were here today." 

The four House Republicans who voted against the veto override were Reps. Killian Timoney, Kim Moser, Kim Banta and Stephanie Dietz. Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty was the only Democrat to support the measure.

The bill is expected to face a legal challenge. 

"To all the trans youth who may be affected by this legislation: we stand by you, and we will not stop fighting. You are cherished. You are loved. You belong," the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky said in a statement. "To the commonwealth: we will see you in court."

The ACLU has called this bill the most extreme anti-trans bill in the United States.

The Family Foundation of Kentucky praised the override. 

"SB 150 will protect the lives of Kentucky children by setting policy in alignment with the truth that every child is created as a male or female and deserves to be loved, treated with dignity, and accepted for who they really are," Family Foundation executive director David Walls said in a statement.

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Coronavirus cases up 8.7% over prior week; Covid-19 deaths fall, but remain above month's average; state attributed 49 last week

Kentucky Department for Public Health graph, adapted by Kentucky Health News

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

New coronavirus cases in Kentucky rose last week and deaths attributed to Covid-19 went down, but remained above the recent average as Kentuckians continued to die from the disease.

The state Department for Public Health's latest report showed there were 2,222 new cases of the coronavirus last week, or 317 cases per day. That's 8.7% more than the prior week, when the state reported 2,044 new cases, 292 per day.

The state attributed 49 more deaths to Covid-19 last week, down from 66 the week before. The state's Covid-19 dashboard indicates that the attribution of deaths is running about a month behind the dates of death.

Over the last four weeks, the state has reported an average of nearly 44 Covid-related deaths each week. The state's death toll from Covid-19 is now 18,292.

The best way to protect yourself from the virus is to get vaccinated and there's still plenty of Kentuckians who need to do so. State data show that only 58% of Kentucky's total population is "fully vaccinated" and only 39% have been boosted.

The weekly new case rate was 6.91 cases per 100,000 residents, up from 6.17 the week before. The top 10 counties were Fleming, 32.33 cases per 100,000; Clinton, 20.97; Elliott, 19; Wayne, 17.56; Powell, 17.34; Rowan, 16.35; Russell, 15.14; Rockcastle, 14.55; Green, 14.36; and Martin, 14.04.

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Beshear vetoes bill that would ban gender-affirming care for Kentuckians under 18; Republicans are expected to override it

Gov. Andy Beshear (State photos)

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a far-reaching bill that would ban transgender minors' access to gender-affirming care and sets strict rules for teaching in Kentucky's schools about sexuality. 

Senate Bill 150 would ban gender-affirming treatment for Kentuckians under 18, including surgeries and puberty-blocking hormones, even if parents want the treatment for their children.

It would bar schools from requiring teachers to use a transgender student's preferred pronouns, keep trans students from using bathrooms that fit their gender identity, and bans instruction that explores "gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation," among other sex-education requirements. 

State Sen. Max Wise

The veto came as no surprise. Beshear, a Democrat running for re-election, has been consistent in his disapproval of the bill, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, who is running for lieutenant governor on a slate headed by Kelly Craft of Lexington.

"I think I've been clear on how I feel about it," Beshear said the day before he vetoed the bill. "I believe Senate Bill 150 tears away the freedom of parents to make important and difficult medical decisions for their kids. It tears away the freedom of parents to do what those parents believe is best for their kids, and instead has big government making those decisions for everyone -- even if the parents disagree."

Beshear's veto message says SB 150 "allows too much government interference in personal healthcare issues and rips away the freedom of parents to make personal family decisions." He wrote that it turns educators and administrators into investigators who must report to parents about how students behave and/or refer to themselves or others. 

He also wrote, "My faith teaches me that all children are children of God and Senate Bill 150 will endanger the children of Kentucky," citing data to support his concerns.

"In a 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ youth mental health, 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year and nearly one in five transgender youth attempted suicide," he wrote. "The American Medical Association reports that receipt of care dramatically reduces the rates of suicide attempts, decreases feelings of depression and anxiety, and reduces substance abuse. Improving access to gender-affirming care is an important means of improving health outcomes for the transgender population. Senate Bill 150 will cause an increase in suicide among Kentucky's youth." 

Lawmakers will reconvene March 29 and 30, when the majorities of Republicans in the House and Senate are expected to easily override the veto. Republicans were quick to criticize it. 

Wise's statement said Beshear "puts party over Kentuckians' wish to eliminate woke ideologies in our children's schools." He said the goal of the bill "is to strengthen parental engagement and communication in their children’s education."

He added, "Parents should look at this veto as a slap in the face. . . . I look forward to the legislature overriding this veto, and protecting children from the irreparable harm of gender-transition surgeries by making SB 150 law.”

Wise also issued a joint statement with Craft, saying “Time and time again, Gov. Beshear has proven he is out of step with what Kentuckians are talking about at their kitchen tables: communication and engagement with their children’s schools. A Craft-Wise administration will ensure our children are protected, make sure parents are heard, and empower teachers to focus on providing a world-class education that teaches our children how to think, not what to think.”

Republican Party of Kentucky spokesman Sean Southard also criticized the veto and looked ahead to the election.

“Is Andy Beshear the governor of Kentucky or California?” Southard asked. “Kentucky voters will have an opportunity this fall to rid our state of this far-left governor and replace him with a Republican who will work to protect children. Once this campaign is over, today may very well be remembered as the day Andy Beshear lost his bid for re-election.”

Attorney General Daniel Cameron, the apparent front-runner in the May 16 Republican primary, criticized news-media coverage of the bill and said “chemical castration and genital mutilation . . . is the exact opposite of how we should support children experiencing gender dysphoria or mental-health struggles. My administration will protect our youth from dangerous ideologies and defend Kentucky’s values.”

Others issued statements praising the veto. 

"By vetoing this hateful legislation, Gov. Beshear has demonstrated his commitments to protect Kentucky parents’ rights to raise their children as they see fit, and to keep medical decisions where they belong: between providers and patients," said Angela Cooper, communications director for American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky.   

Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign, said "SB 150 will only lead to disaster and despair for transgender Kentucky kids and their families. . . . We urge state lawmakers to read the governor's veto message, listen to medical professionals and sustain Gov. Beshear's veto." 

Kentucky Voices For Health said in its newsletter that it joined more than 500 organizations, providers and individuals in signing a letter of opposition to SB 150, and urged citizens to call their legislators' offices at 502-564-8100.

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Legislature takes away Medicaid dental, vision and hearing benefits Beshear granted; he indicates he will do it another way

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

In October, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear announced the expansion of dental, vision and hearing benefits for 900,000 Kentucky adults on Medicaid. On March 16, 2023, the Republican-controlled General Assembly took a final vote to take those benefits away, calling the regulation used to install them deficient. Beshear said Thursday that he will find a way to keep them in place.

Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris

In presenting Senate Bill 65, Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, said the regulation Beshear issued to expand these services was deficient because the funding came from the $38 million in savings that came when the state moved to a single pharmacy benefit manager, a middleman between drug manufacturers and companies that manage Medicaid.

West said using these savings amounted to the governor "appropriating money" and that lawmakers should have been involved in how it was spent.  

"It was a huge change, really that should have been done through, we felt, through statute through involving the legislature," West said at the Feb. 15 Senate State and Local Government Committee meeting.

In October, Cabinet for Health and Family Services spokeswoman Susan Dunlap told the Courier Journal that federal funds would cover 90% of the expansion's cost. She said the state's move to one pharmacy-benefits manager last year "has resulted in significant ongoing savings to the Medicaid program that will provide enough funding for this program moving forward."

As SB 65 went through the legislature, it was amended to extend dental, vision and hearing services through June 30 to allow people already getting the services to receive them and allow providers to be paid. 

The amendment also says nothing in the bill should be construed to prohibit the state Medicaid department from increasing reimbursement rates, long a goal of health-care providers. The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition says Medicaid's dental provider rates have been stagnant for more than 20 years.

Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said a rate hike is especially needed in medically disadvantaged areas. In explaining his vote for SB 65, he also said the momey could have been used to help the 5,000 children who are waiting for services from one of the state's special Medicaid waiver programs. 

"I just want to remind folks that what we're asking here is for some involvement from the legislature," Meredith said. "Talk to us. Let us have some input in this." 

What's next? 

Before the expansion of these services, they were offered on a limited basis. 

Dental services for adults were limited to an annual cleaning and extractions linked to certain medical conditions. Adult fillings were not covered. The expansion allowed coverage for fillings, dentures, implants, root canals, extractions, restorations, periodontics and an additional cleaning each year.

Also, under the old rules, a Medicaid enrollee could be evaluated for hearing loss only on referral from their primary-care doctor; and glasses and contact lenses were not covered, though exams were. Some managed-care firms offered some of these services as an incentive to get people to enroll with them.

Asked at his weekly news conference Thursday if there is a way to maintain the benefits, Beshear said, "I believe a new regulation will allow for the continuation of vision, dental and hearing benefits. The expansion of those benefits, the funding coming from the federal government is an executive branch function. But even at the hearing, I believe . . .  one of the legislators said it looks like you'll need a new regulation."

SB 65 requires any new regulation to be substantially different from the original. If Beshear vetoes the bill, the legislature could easily override the veto.

Beshear called the need for dental, vision and hearing benefits for people on Medicaid a "no-brainer" because "This is what gets people back to work." He elaborated:

"There's a study that talks about over 100 million work hours lost due to dental, emergency dental procedures that if you have coverage you avoid. Now there are studies out there about the number of people that can't go to work because we don't cover getting them a pair of glasses. And then think about safety on the job site. You know a ton of Americans . . . suffer from hearing loss. And to be able to get to the job and to do it correctly, you need to have that type of coverage. Again, if we care about the workforce, right, let's take the basic steps to get more people healthy [and] back to work." 

Access to providers

West also argued that health-care providers tell lawmakers that even if these services are permitted in Medicaid, the program's reimbursements are so low that it will be hard for the patients to find providers. 

That said, the health cabinet says thousands of Kentuckians on Medicaid have already taken advantage of these services since they became available Jan. 1.

"As of Feb. 22, more than 8,000 Kentuckians – across all 120 counties – have already received dental, vision, and hearing services they need under these regulations," the cabinet said. "More than 1,000 Kentuckians received nearly 3,330 dental services under these regulations – in all 120 Kentucky counties – including from a dentist in Clay County who since Jan. 1, 2023, had provided four sets of dentures for patients and has 44 more sets of dentures in progress."

Clay County is the home of Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester.

The cabinet added, "Nearly 7,000 Kentuckians have received vision services under these regulations, with nearly 43,000 services provided. And 40 Kentuckians have received hearing services with these regulations in place. . . . Providers have received over $1 million in reimbursement for the services."

Health advocates push back 

Health advocates were disappointed in the bill's passage and called for legislators to reinstate thes services. 

"The genesis of this unfortunate piece of legislation is a raw partisan battle between the General Assembly and the governor," said Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates. "Both branches of our government should be holding each other accountable when one thinks the other overstepped its bounds. Yet, there should also be no doubt that neither providers nor Kentucky families should pay the price for a political food fight. SB 65 has providers left holding the bag with more Kentuckians losing dental benefits than the total population of Alaska. It's as unwise as it is unfair." 

In a statement about the passage of SB 65, the Oral Health Coalition cited the great need for comprehensive dental services in Kentucky, noting that the state ranks among the bottom five states on several oral-health indicators and has more seniors with no natural teeth than any other state. 

"While it was a worthy debate about the process to expand services, the reality now is that 900,000 low-income, disabled, and other vulnerable Kentucky adults must once again go without critical dental care," the coalition said. "By no means is this expansion the answer to the growing oral health crisis in Kentucky, but it can offer a first step toward providing comprehensive dental care for Kentuckians. The Department for Medicaid Services and the General Assembly must reach an agreement in the immediate aftermath of the legislative session so our Commonwealth can be back on track to providing folks with the health care they need to be healthy, work, and thrive." 

Emily Beauregard, executive director of Kentucky Voices for Health, an advocacy group, told Kentucky Health News in an e-mail, "Regardless of the politics, it's clear that Kentuckians don't have enough access to the dental, vision, and hearing care they need to be healthy. We've made progress in recognizing that mental health is health and we need to do the same for our mouths, eyes, and ears."  

She added, "Whether it's through regulation or legislation, we need policymakers to increase access to these services to improve population health and build a stronger workforce," she added. With the passage of SB 65, "I hope legislators will take action to increase services through legislation instead."

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Opinon: Gender dysphoria may have a basis in human biology

By Kimberly Kennedy

Most of us witnessed with horror the passage of anti-transgender bill SB150 by legislators who ignored overwhelming opposition. Since Gov. Andy Beshear is expected to veto it, our only recourse is to convince legislators not to override that veto.

If you’re dubious, hear me out: We’ve left critical information out of the conversation, namely the growing evidence that gender dysphoria (GD) has a basis in biology. Skeptical that would work? Well, research shows that when people understand this, their support for trans people increases.

Kimberly Kennedy

Many in the trans community bristle at the idea of discussing GD as if it were a defect. But I believe we can be sensitive; and I take inspiration from researcher Dr. J. Graham Theisen of Augusta University, who describes it as a “variant,” like blue eyes or brown hair, that doesn’t cause disease but makes us individuals.

Plus, we must meet the opposition where they are, if we hope to bridge the gap. I’ve heard awful comments about trans people; but I look for common threads, like the belief it’s a choice or lifestyle, or that it ignores what God intended. Evidence of a biological basis discounts these arguments and might persuade more legislators to push the pause button on anti-trans legislation.

So here’s a sample: First, research has confirmed that male and female brains are different. Second, during fetal development, hormones influence the gender of the external and internal sex organs during the first trimester; hormones program gender development in the brain, where gender identity is experienced, later in the pregnancy.

Research in the Netherlands from 2014 found that in some cases, physical development in utero was subject to a hormonal mismatch from brain development, “so that the body was masculinized and the brain was feminized, or the other way around.” This corresponds with transgender people’s reported experience of their gender identity, which occurs before age seven for three-fourths of the population.

In 2018, an Australian study comparing transgender women and cisgender men (both born male) found statistically different variations in four genes. In 2020, a U.S. and a U.K. meta-analysis (compilation of multiple studies) found that “people with gender dysphoria have a brain structure more comparable to the gender to which they identify” rather than to the sex assigned at birth. Yet a 2020 German study found that the brain structure of trans women was different from both cisgender males and females. In view of this, researchers suggest that we view gender as a “spectrum” rather than a binary construct.

Theisen clarifies that “once someone has a male or female brain, they have it and you are not going to change it. The goal of treatments like hormone therapy and surgery is to help their body more closely match where their brain already is.”

Proof of transgender biology indicates that SB 150 will invite a civil-rights lawsuit. Thus Kentucky taxpayers will pay to defend legislation that 71% of Kentuckians don’t want — potentially costing hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars; just ask Floridians about the price tag for defending controversial legislation.

Contact all legislators who voted "yes" in the House and Senate. Write to your own representative or senator, or call the Legislative Research Commission comment line at 1-800-372-7181. We have until Tuesday, March 28, to make a difference for our families and friends.

Kimberly Kennedy of Villa Hills in Kenton County is a freelance writer, former educator and parenting-magazine editor, and parent of an LGBTQ+ young adult. Her degrees are a BFA in art education and a BA in art history from the University of Cincinnati. This article was originally published in Kentucky Forward.

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Seats available at Mar. 28 Recovery in the Workplace Conference

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New coronavirus cases dropped again last week in Kentucky, but state-recorded deaths from Covid-19 have another weekly jump

N.Y. Times map of new-case rates has Menifee County as a hot spot.

By Melissa Patrick
Ky. Health News

Last week, new coronavirus cases in Kentucky dropped 20 percent from the week before, but deaths from Covid-19 increased again. 

The state Department for Public Health attributed 66 more deaths to Covid-19 last week, up from 47 the week before and 13 the week before that. The state's pandemic death toll is now 18,243. 

The state reports there were 2,044 new cases of the coronavirus last week, or 292 cases per day. That's a drop from 2,572 the week before. 

The weekly new case rate was 6.17 cases per 100,000 people, down a bit from 6.39 the week before. The top 10 counties were Bath, 18.29 cases per 100,000; Rockcastle, 16.26; Lyon, 13.92; Powell, 13.87; Hopkins, 11.83; Webster, 11.04; Mason, 10.04; Wolfe, 9.98; Hardin, 9.91; and Fleming, 9.8.

The New York Times ranks Kentucky's case rate 12th among the states, with a 41% drop in cases in the last two weeks.

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Get prepared now for Medicaid renewals, Kentucky

By Kennan Wethington
President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky

When Covid-19 hit three years ago, the federal government responded with a series of actions made possible by declaring a Public Health Emergency, also called the PHE. One of these actions was to freeze a process called Medicaid renewal, allowing Medicaid members to remain in their plans regardless of status or eligibility changes. That will all change in the coming weeks.

260,000 Kentuckians Could Lose Coverage: Recent federal legislation ended continuous enrollment in Medicaid, allowing renewals to begin on April 1. As a result, the extended health coverage for some on Medicaid will end, with disenrollments expected as soon as June 1. Here in the commonwealth, up to 260,000 people and as many as 18 million across the country could be affected.

The good news for those losing Medicaid coverage is that new subsidies may make Marketplace health plans more affordable than ever. In addition, many helpful resources are available to guide people to the coverage and support they need. With Medicaid renewal resuming, now is the time to begin preparing.

Start planning now: Here’s a checklist for all Medicaid beneficiaries to get ready for Medicaid renewal:

1) Make sure Kentucky’s Department for Medicaid Services has your current contact information by visiting kynect.ky.gov or call kynect at 855-4KYNECT (855-459-6328)

2) Watch closely for letters and information from Kentucky Medicaid and respond to them quickly.

3) Visit the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange at khbe.ky.gov/Enrollment/Pages/PHEUnwinding.aspx for help understanding Medicaid eligibility changes.

4) Even if you still qualify for coverage, you may receive renewal instructions from Kentucky Medicaid. Make sure to follow instructions carefully.

5) If you don’t qualify, start making plans now to find affordable health plans through your employer or the Marketplace. Don’t let your coverage lapse.

A change of employment will be a common reason many Kentuckians will no longer qualify for Medicaid plans. The next step for people in this situation is to talk to their employer to determine if they are eligible for employer-sponsored health benefits. If employer-based health plans are not an option, an Affordable Care Act health plan through the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange, is likely the best choice for health coverage.

There are options if you lose Medicaid: If you no longer qualify for Medicaid coverage and employer-sponsored plans are not an option, understanding health coverage choices available through the Health Insurance Marketplace and how to enroll can take some time to sort out. That’s where we come in – those of us in the community dedicated to connecting people to quality, affordable health care. Two helpful sources are:

• The Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange, at khbe.ky.gov, is full of information, resources, agents, and health coverage guides called kynectors who can answer questions and help you understand your coverage options.
• HealthCare.gov is another warehouse of information, quick start guides as well as connections to healthcare navigators and brokers in each community.

All these information tools, agencies, and surprisingly affordable health plan options work together, making sure no one falls through the gaps.

Health care can still be affordable and equitable: The Affordable Care Act led to the creation of health plans that go beyond basic coverage, yet remain affordable even for those who don’t qualify for Medicaid and lack access to employer-sponsored coverage. Marketplace plans cover essential health benefits, including emergency services, prescription drugs and pediatric services, and they offer no cost preventive care. This means consumers pay nothing for important services such as regular wellness visits, immunizations and screenings. These services are key to avoiding and managing serious health conditions.

Marketplace plans are often more affordable than ever because federal subsidies have been expanded through 2025 to help keep costs down for consumers. Most people covered by these plans receive a federal subsidy, and in fact, some families that qualify for subsidies will pay nothing for coverage. If you did not previously qualify for subsidies, you may now be eligible.

Let’s stick together, Kentucky: More than ever, the last three years taught us that health is a group effort, and that equitable, affordable access to healthcare is vital to our physical, mental, and financial well-being. We learned that our health is interconnected not just to each other as Kentuckians, but also to our commonwealth’s entire economy. We’re at a pivotal moment, let’s not lose the momentum we’ve gained. If you’re impacted by Medicaid renewals, please start preparing now to keep you and your family protected with health coverage that works for you.

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Ernie Scott of Letcher County dies of rare brain aneurysm at 46; had been director of the State Office of Rural Health since 2013

Ernie Lee Scott

Funeral services were held Friday for Ernie Scott, who was director of the State Office of Rural Health in the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health. He died of a rare brain aneurysm Sunday, March 12, at his home in Partridge, in Letcher County. He was 46.

Scott started his career as a radiology technologist, earned a bachelor’s degree in health care administration at Midway College, and became director of the Office of Rural Health in 2013.

In 2014 received the Emerging Leader Award from the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, and in 2020 won th Kentucky Rural Health Association's Dan Martin Award for lifetime contributions to rural health. Last year, the office was one of three organizations in the nation to receive a three-year, nearly $900,000 grant from the federal Office of Rural Health Policy to improve access to health care for veterans living in rural Kentucky and to improve coordination of veterans' care.

Scott is survived by his wife, Tiffany Bullock Scott, and their daughter, Addyson Grace Scott. The couple owned and operated the General Store at Pine Mountain Crossing on US 119. Other survivors include his mother, Iris Jean Scott; siblings Howard Wayne Scott (Renee) and Sherry Scott Geiger (David); and many nieces and nephews.

"To know Ernie was to love him," his obituary says. "He quickly became a friend to all he met. He always greeted folks with a smile and often a big hug. He was a planner, a goal setter, and achiever. He loved his family, friends, church, and his community. He poured his heart and soul into Letcher County (specifically Cumberland River) and made huge impacts in many other rural communities."

His funeral was at Lewis Creek Pentecostal Church, along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River in Partridge, with burial in the D.L. Creech Cemetery four and a half miles downstream, at Cumberland. Tri-City Funeral Home was in charge.

Memorial donations may be made to a health-care scholarship fund in Scott’s name at Commercial Bank, 1701 E. Main St., Cumberland KY 40823.

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Medical cannabis bill passes Senate, awaits House vote March 30

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

A bill that would make medical marijuana legal for some in Kentucky has passed the state Senate for the first time and awaits a vote in the House, which has passed two similar bills in previous legislative sessions.

Sen. Stephen West

"It is time for Kentucky to join the other 37 states in the United States that allow medical marijuana as an option for their citizens," said Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, in presenting his bill to the Senate, adding later, "It is understood that this is a very complex issue and if passed, will be a work in progress." 

Senate Bill 47 passed late Thursday night on a 26-11 vote. The House gave the bill its first of three required readings the same night, which will allow enough time for it to pass out of the House when the lawmakers return March 29 and 30.

Last year, after a House-passed bill again got no hearing in the Senate, Gov. Andy Beshear used his pardon power to allow people with 21 specified medical conditions and a doctor's certificate to possess up to eight ounces of marijuana bought legally in another state. (Illinois is the only adjoining state where nonresidents can legally buy cannabis.) Beshear signaled Thursday that he would sign the bill.

West, who said he has worked on such legislation for about five years, told the Senate, “This is one of those issues where you take out the ledger and you list the pros and cons. It’s a long list on both sides, but for me personally, the pros outweigh the cons.”

The 124-page bill would not allow medical marijuana to be smoked, require users to be 18 or older or be a caretaker for a child, limit supply, and not take effect until Jan. 1, 2025.

The medical marijuana would be allowed for certain "qualifying medical conditions," including all cancers regardless of the stage; chronic, severe, intractable or debilitating pain; epilepsy or any other tractable seizure disorder; multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms or spasticity; chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome that has proven resistant to other conventional medical treatments; post-traumatic stress disorder; and any other medical condition or disease for which the new Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research at the University of Kentucky determines would benefit from medicinal marijuana.

West and other lawmakers praised the advocacy of Eric and Michelle Crawford, a quadriplegic who has long searched for another option to manage his pain. They also praised the ongoing work of advocate Jamie Montalvo, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, toward getting this bill passed. 

 Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, said the Crawfords and Montalvo don't want to break the law: "These are people that are willing to work hard and make sacrifices to comply with the law. What they are looking for is a pathway forward to make sure that people can get a safe product." 

Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said it was important to show those who are suffering from  debilitating diseases  "just a little bit of mercy" and that was why he voted yes.   

“Will this be abused by some folks?  It certainly will," he said. "But again, if we can benefit just one person, one child, I think it’s worthwhile."

Only Republicans voted against the bill: Gary Boswell of Owensboro, Danny Carroll of Benton, Donald Douglas of Nicholasville, Rick Girdler of Somerset, President Pro Tem David Givens of Greensburg, Chris McDaniel of Ryland Heights, Robby Mills of Henderson, John Schickel of Union, President Robert Stivers of Manchester, Mike Wilson of Bowling Green, and Max Wise of Campbellsville. 

Marijuana is a "scourge of the earth," Boswell said. "I urge my colleagues to vote no. If you are going to violate federal law, at least tighten up the bill to include only the critically ill." 

Douglas, a physician, said, “With the different growing techniques and the increased concentration of these chemical compounds, I’m not really convinced that this drug is safe. But we do have some research going on out there, and I really want to thank the University of Kentucky. I hope we have some other institutions doing research who will give us good information.”

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Bill to ban gender-affirming care for youth goes to Beshear after advocates do an end-run to quash bipartisan Senate changes

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

A revised bill with language to ban gender-affirming care for Kentucky's transgender youth moved quickly through both houses of the General Assembly Thursday and is on Gov. Andy Beshear's desk.

Even if the Democratic governor vetoes the bill, as is expected, the supermajority of Republicans in the legislature can override the veto when they return on March 28 and 29. 

Changes made to Senate Bill 150, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, were approved in a hastily called meeting of the House Education Committee, which approved it 16-5 with Republican Rep. Killian Timoney of Nicholasville voting "no" with the four Democrats on the committee.

Soon after, the amended bill passed the House 75-22, despite more than two hours of Democrats speaking against it.

SB 150 moved quickly to the Senate for concurrence with the House changes. It passed 30-7 to shouts and obscenities yelled from the gallery at legislators. Sen. Danny Carroll of Benton was the only Republican to vote against the bill and Sen. Robin Webb of Grayson, was the only Democrat for it.

The night before, Carroll had narrowly succeeded in watering down a House bill that would limit gender-affirming care, but after his floor amendment passed 19-17 the Senate laid HB 470 on the clerk's desk and Wise worked with the House to put most of the original bill into SB 150.

The amended version of SB 150 prohibits gender-affirming medical care for trans youth, including gender-affirming surgery or puberty-blocking hormones. It allows health-care providers to de-transition youth who are already taking such hormones, which would require them to taper them off of the drugs. It also provides exemptions for youth who have a diagnosed sexual-development disorder. 

Providers who violate the law would have their licenses revoked, and youth who claim injury as a result of gender-affirming care could fule suit to recover damages until they turn 30 years old or within three years from the time they discovery the injury. The normal deadline for a lawsuit is one year.

SB 150 also includes its original provisions to prohibit schools from requiring teachers to use a trans student's preferred pronouns and requires schools to notify parents about any content related to sexuality. It also added content from HB 177, which does not allow any sex education to children in grades five and below and bans all students from receiving instruction that explores "gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation."

Sen. Danny Carroll speaks on SB 150. (Legislative photo) 

Carroll's revised bill likewise prohibited surgical medical treatments for trans youth, but unlike allowed some nonsurgical medical-treatment options. 

His change was supported by all seven Democratic senators and 12 of the 31 Republicans. Seven of them voted the other way when Wise's bill came back from the House. It passed 30-7.

Carroll, explaining his no vote, said, "We know that most kids that are struggling with gender dysphoria decide to stay the gender that they are. It's a phase that they go through, [and for] some it's not. What would it hurt to allow doctors to have access to these puberty blockers to give these kids time to work through the issues that they face? Why can't we trust our doctors, as we do for every other issue, to guide us through these things?"

Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, whose trans son Henry died by suicide in December, said of SB 150, "This is absolutely willful hate for a small group of people that are the weakest and most vulnerable among us."

Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill (Christian County), said his yes vote was "reluctant." He said SB 150 was better than HB 470 largely because it allows doctors to talk freely with their patients about their medical concerns without fear of liability.  

During the House floor debate, Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, reminded the lawmakers that nearly half of LGBTQ individuals have seriously considered suicide and that percentage is much higher with transgender children. "If this legislation causes one child in Kentucky to consider or to take their own live, this is a wrong piece of legislation," he said.

Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, issued a statement calling the speedy passage of SB 150 "parliamentary shenanigans" and that the genesis of the measure "springs from a national agenda of fearmongering."   

"Passage of SB 150, even with the amendment, means that kids lose access to much needed health and mental health supports. It means that families lose vital rights. And it means that Frankfort Republicans – save the courageous Representatives Banta, Dietz, Moser, and Timoney and Senator Carroll, who refused to vote in support of the measure – lose their long-held core governing identity. That is a lose-lose-lose trifecta for us all," he said. 

Senate Majority Floor Leader Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, who voted for the bill, said SB 150's anti-trans provisions were modeled after a law in South Dakota. 

Rep. Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill, while explaining her "pass" vote said, "I'm concerned that it doesn't comment enough on the mental-health treatment. . . . I really would like to see that we are allowing for mental-health treatment, watchful waiting and making sure that we're supporting the families who are going through this issue. I'm passing today because we want to protect children on all sides of this issue." Moser is chair of the House Health Services Committee.

Tamarra Wieder, state director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, voiced her disappointment: "SB 150 is deliberately designed to create a culture war across this commonwealth. It has nothing to do with parental rights. It has nothing to do with caring for kids. What it does is go against the guidance of every major medical association in this state. It replaces our physicians with politicians and places our trans kids' lives on the line." 

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Medical marijuana passes Senate committee, awaits floor vote

L-R: Eric Crawford, Jamie Montalvo, Sen. Stephen West and Chris Joffrion spoke in favor of West's medical marijuana bill in the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee. (Legislative photo)  

By Melissa Patrick

Kentucky Health News

For the first time, a bill to legalize and regulate medical marijuana in Kentucky has cleared a Senate committee after years of the idea being stalled in the upper chamber. 

Senate Bill 47, with a committee substitute, passed out of the Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee March 14 on an 8-3 vote. Republican Sens. Donald Douglas of Nicholasville, Committee Chair John Schickel of Union, and Chris McDaniel of Ryland Heights, cast the "no" votes. 

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer of Georgetown, a long-time opponent of medical marijuana legislation, was among those voting in favor of the bill, saying he approved its narrow focus and that his support was for "the sake of those who suffer." 

The 124-page bill, sponsored by Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, does not allow medical marijuana to be smoked, requires users to be 18 or older or be a caretaker for a child, and would not take effect until Jan. 1, 2025.

The medical marijuana would be allowed for certain "qualifying medical conditions," including all cancers regardless of stage; chronic, severe, intractable or debilitating pain; epilepsy or any other tractable seizure disorder; multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms or spasticity; chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome that has proven resistant to other conventional medical treatments; post-traumatic stress disorder; and any other medical condition or disease for which the new Kentucky Center for Cannabis Reserach determines would benefit from medicinal marijuana. 

Longtime advocate for medical marijuana Eric Crawford of Mason County, who has been a quadriplegic for nearly 30 years, said marijuana improves the quality of his life and that he and others who benefit from it "deserve legal access without the worry of law enforcement."  

“It allows me longevity and a better quality of life. It allows me to be a better husband, son, friend and man than a pharmaceutical route. Surely there’s nobody on this committee that thinks I’d be better off taking opioids,” he said.

Sandra Marlowe, the sister of Sen. Gex Williams, R-Verona, who is wheelchair-bound due to the debiliating and deadly disease ALS, also asked the committee members to pass the bill. 

“This disease will take my life. I ask that my days be as comfortable as possible with access to the THC tincture. That is the only thing that gives me relief. . . . Without painful cramps, I am more productive," she said. 

Thayer told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Tuesday that the bill had time to get its two required readings for a vote on the Senate floor Thursday, the final legislative day before the veto session. However, he added that he's not sure it has the Senate floor votes to get passed.

If the Senate passes the bill Thursday and gets a reading in the House, the House coulld pass it when the lawmakers return for the last two days of the session, usually reserved fro veto overrides. Medical marijuana bills have passed out of the House twice.

Two people spoke against the bill: Michael Johnson of the Family Foundation and Gene Cole of the Kentucky Ethics League/ Kentucky League on Alcohol, Gambling Problems and Substance Use Disorder. 

Johnson said the while he is sympathetic to people who have not found relief from their ailment from modern medicine,  there is "insufficient scientific evidence that marijuana is an effective pain relieving agent or that it is safe and effective as a medicine." He also called for "more research"  before it is legalized.

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Long Covid update: There's still reason to avoid Covid-19, even if you've had it already; it's 'annoyingly stubborn,' expert says

By Katelyn Jetelina

Your Local Epidemiologist

Covid-19 is not the common cold. Here’s an effort to keep you up to date on long-Covid developments.

What we knew: Long Covid after first infection was clearly a risk. The risk of long Covid after re-infection was not known.
New info: In the U.K., risk of long Covid dropped after second infections compared to first infection (4% → 2.4%). This is good and bad news: Risk drops, but risk is clearly not zero.
Why it matters: There is still reason to avoid Covid-19, even if you’ve had it already.

Metformin may work

What we knew: About 300 clinical trials are testing treatments for long Covid-19, including Metformin. Results are trickling in.

Cumulative incidence curve of long-Covid diagnoses over
10 months after randomization. Source: Lancet preprint.

New info: Metformin reduced long Covid in a large randomized control trial.
Metformin had a 42% reduced risk in long Covid cases compared to the placebo; 63% reduced risk if taken within four days of symptoms.
For every 100 people who took the drug, four fewer cases of long Covid nine months after infection occurred. Ivermectin and fluvoxamine had no impact.
Why it matters: People should consider Metformin, especially women who are at higher risk for long Covid. It’s best taken within four days of infection. This is a challenging timeframe in the U.S. medical care system, though.

Paxlovid may help… a little?

 
What we knew: Paxlovid helps reduce severe disease by 50-90%. We didn’t know if it helped with long Covid, though.
New info: Paxlovid reduced risk of long Covid by 26%, regardless of vaccination status and history of prior infection. We need more studies, particularly among young people, as Paxlovid’s effect will likely increase among younger people.
Why it matters: There may be small, proxy benefits from taking Paxlovid, including among younger populations that aren’t “eligible.”

 
Long Covid is annoyingly stubborn

What we didn’t know: We didn’t know the longevity of severe symptoms.
New info: Among those with long Covid, the rate in which symptoms affected daily life decreased from 45% → 25% over seven months.
Why it matters: If you get severe long Covid, there is a chance that symptoms will get better after seven months. Then again, there’s a chance that they won’t.

Still not convinced?

What we know: People living with long Covid report profound stigmatization because people disbelieve that long Covid is a “thing.”

New info: A community member of this newsletter, Dianna Cowarn (also known as Physics Babe on YouTube), was diagnosed with long Covid last summer. Her crew made a 4-minute video. Check it out here if you’re still not convinced. It’s painstaking [and is preceded by ads].

Bottom line: Covid-19 infection is not the common cold for some. Our knowledge is inching closer to treatments. But with so much unknown, we still need to emphasize prevention—keeping Covid-19 cases low and ensuring vaccination.

Katelyn Jetelina (MPH, PhD) is an epidemiologist, data scientist, wife, and mom of two little girls. She works at a nonpartisan health policy think tank and is a senior scientific consultant to the CDC and other organizations.

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Bill to let advance-practice registered nurses prescribe controlled substances on their own after four years passes, at long last

Image from Kentucky Association of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives Facebook page

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

A bill to create a path for Kentucky's advanced-practice registered nurses to prescribe controlled substances independently has finally passed and is on its way to the governor's desk. 

After seven years of debates and months of negotiations with the powerful Kentucky Medical Association, Sen. Julie Raque Adams, a Republican from Louisville, was able to broker a compromise between the association and the Kentucky Association of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives. 

To cheers, the House passed Senate Bill 94 by a vote of 92-1, with the only dissenting vote coming from Rep. Kim King, R-Harrodsburg. 

Beth Partin, president of the APRN association, called the passage of this bill "momentous." 

"This means that APRNs will be able to improve access to care. We'll be able to help more people," she said, later adding, "I think it means that more nurse practitioners and nurse midwives will open practices in rural areas."  

Further, she said it means that APRNs won't have to pay "lots of money" to a collaborating physician "to sign the paper" that allows them to have a Drug Enforcement Agency number, which is needed if they want to open a practice. 

"You have to have a DEA number to order certain supplies like flu vaccine and oxygen and things like that. . . . So even if you didn't prescribe scheduled drugs, you still had to have that in order to establish your practice to get get the supplies you need," she said.

Jill York, executive director of the APRN association, said the passage of SB 94 could help about 3,000 veteran APRNs, who are working under a cooperatitve agreement that allows them to prescribe conrrolled substances and could begin the process of not working under a collaborative agreement. 

"They will be able to move toward independence from that agreement if they would like to," she said. "And it opens a lot of opportunity and a lot of doors for APRNs who might want to open their own practice somewhere in Kentucky." 

Partin, who has been involved with legislative work for 30 years and served on the negotiation team for the bill, praised the negotiation efforts between her association and the KMA, calling them respectful, professional and thoughtful. Further, she said there was a spirit of compromise and that everyone left their egos at the door. 

"I'm hopeful that that will carry over into the future because we share a lot of common interests," she said. 

Kentucky APRNs have been able to prescribe controlled substances since 2006 under agreements with with a physician. They are allowed to prescribe a 72-hour supply of a Schedule II drug, the highest class of controlled substance that can be prescribed, and SB 94 would not change that.

With the passage of the bill, an APRN who wants to prescribe controlled substances independently must work under an agreement for four years, have regular meetings with their collaborating physician while working under the agreement, undergo a license review by the Kentucky Board of Nursing, maintain a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration registration and a master account in the Kentucky All-Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting system.

The bill would establish the Controlled Substances Prescribing Council in the Office of the Inspector General at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which will meet at least quarterly to discuss the safe and appropriate prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances.

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Freestanding birthing center bill hits a roadblock: the floor leader

By Melissa Patrick

Kentucky Health News

Even though a Senate bill to remove the state's certificate of need requirements from freestanding birthing centers has passed out of the same committee twice, most recently in weaker form, and the House version of the bill has cleared a committee, the prospects of it becoming law have dimmed. 

Sen. Damon Thayer

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said at the March 3 Licensing and Occupations Committee meeting that while he appreciated the sponsor's efforts to improve the bill, made at his request, bills regarding certificates of need for health-care facilities "are not moving forward this session." 

Thayer, who calls bills up for a vote on the Senate floor, said "It’s very likely that we’re going to have a task force or a working group or one or two committee meetings dedicated to the certificate of need issue this summer."

Senate Bill 67, sponsored by Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, cleared the Licensing and Occupations Committee on Feb. 21 on a 9-2 vote. On March 3, it was recommitted to the same committee, and on March 7 the panel approved an amended version of the bill by a vote of 7-3. 

The "no" votes came from Republican Sens. Amanda Mays Bledsoe of Lexington, Chris McDaniel of Ryland Heights, and Thayer. Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, a physician, passed.

"The committee sub is good and it moves it in the right direction," Thayer said in explaining his vote. "But I think I would be disingenuous knowing that we're probably going to take a deep dive into this issue during the interim. . . . I'm going to vote no because I just don't think it's ready for prime time yet." 

The new version of the bill would only allow freestanding birthing centers that have four or fewer beds to be exempt from having a certficate of need.

"This truly is a concession to the Kentucky Hospital Association," Funke Frommeyer said.

Freestanding birthing centers only provide vaginal deliveries for women with low-risk pregnancies.  Funke Frommeyer told the committee that Kentucky is one of only eight states that do not offer freestanding birthing centers. 

Kentucky hasn't had a freestanding birthing center since the 1980s, although it has administrative regulations for licensing them and qualifying them for Medicaid reimbursement.

The revisions also added that the Cabinet for Health and Family Services would delineate requirements for medical malpractice insurance for the freestanding birthing centers, refers to the centers as health facilities instead of institutions and adds some screening and reporting requirements. 

Proponents of the birthing centers say the greatest roadblock to these centers is the certificate-of-need law, which require a center to prove that there is an unmet need for services before it can open, which allows providers and hospitals to challenge the would-be competitor's application.   

Several hospital officials spoke against removing the requirement. KHA President Nancy Galvagni argued that the certificate-of-need process is necessary for the health and safety of patients. 

"The proposed legislation and the committee sub to remove freestanding birthing centers from CON would require a change in regulation, removing the requirement for oversight of the facility by an obstetrician with admitting privileges at a local hospital," Galvagni said.

She alos noted that the bill does not require a written transfer agreement with a Kentucky hospital. "If a complication during birth arises, a quick transfer from the birthing center to the hospital is going to be critical to the health and life of the mother and child. And without those written transfer agreements in place, a complicated birth could easily lead to the death of the mother, the baby or both," she said. 

Thayer and Committee Chair John Schickel, R-Union, scolded the KHA for not bringing its issues to the committee during the interim between legislative sessions, when the issue was discussed. Galvagni said they did not testify because they thought their position on this bill was "very well known." 

House Bill 129, sponsored by Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, passed out of the Feb. 22 House Licensing, Occupations & Administrative Regulations Committee without dissent and two pass votes. It has received two of its three required readings but still awaits a vote in the full House.

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In first Republican gubernatorial debate, Cameron says he could sign a medical-cannabis bill with 'a framework that is responsible'

Candidates who debated, clockwise from upper left:
Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, Attorney General Daniel
Cameron, state Auditor Mike Harmon, Commissioner
of Agriculture Ryan Quarles (Spectrum News image)

By Al Cross
Kentucky Health News

Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Tuesday night that he could sign a medical-marijuana bill as governor if it law-enforcement and medical experts "can get around a framework that is responsible."

Cameron was one of four Republican candidates for governor who appeared in the first debate of the race, held in Louisville by Spectrum News, a cable-television service.

When Cameron ran for attorney general four years ago he was "absolutely" against medical marijuana, Nick Storm of Kentucky Fried Politics noted in his post-debate analysis for Spectrum. Then, he was the candidate of law enforcement, but now polls show overwhelming voter support for medical cannabis, Storm noted.

Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, who came out for medical cannabis a week earlier, said whatever law the state had needs "a very narrow framework."

Somerset Mayor Alan Keck said he "came out with this policy position months ago," and said it is "another example of Kentucky lagging behind. . . . We need to get the Senate on board and get it done.”

The Senate has not taken up medical-cannabis bills that the House has passed in two legislative sessions.

State Auditor Mike Harmon, who answered the question last, said "I'm not there yet, but I am open to discussion."

The debate did not include former United Nations ambassador Kelly Craft, who declined the invitation from Spectrum and the Jefferson County Republican Party, which co-sponsored the event.

The debate dealt with other health issues,so this story will be udpdated.

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Learn how to nominate someone for recognition as a Healthy Kentucky Champion in a 30-minute webinar at noon ET March 21

Kentucky has many "Healthy Kentucky Champions," people recognized by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky for their efforts to make our state a healthier place. You may know someone worthy of this award, but don't know how to nominate them. Here's your chance to give them the recognition they deserve.

The foundation will host "Health for a Change: Recognizing Healthy Kentucky Champions," a 30-minute webinar, at noon ET Tuesday, March 21. Viewers will learn about the program, its benefits, and how to nominate someone. "You’ll get the inside scoop on how to make your nomination stand out from the bunch," the foundation says in a news release. "Let’s promote the efforts of people working to improve the health of Kentuckians!" To register, click here. 

Panelists on the webinar will be Ashley Brauer, the foundation's vice president of communications,and Matthew Coleman, a member of the foundation's Community Advisory Council and a project manager for the Kentucky Office of Rural Health in the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health.

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On the third anniversary of the pandemic's arrival in Ky., the virus continues to infect and kill; state's new-case rate still 3rd in nation

New York Times graphs show panedmic's history in U.S. and states with top three new-case rates.

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Today, March 6, marks the third anniversary of the announcement of Kentucky's first case of Covid-19, a disease that has infected more than 1.7 million Kentuckians and killed 18,130 of them.

And while the Covid-19 national emergency and public-health emergency declarations that have been in place since early 2020 will end May 11 and the state is scaling back its Covid-19 reporting, that doesn't mean Covid-19 is over. Kentuckians are still getting Covid-19 and still dying from it.

The state Department for Public Health's new webpage with Covid-19 surveillance data says there were 4,736 new cases of the coronavirus last week, or 676 cases per day. That's up 44% from last week's report. 

The state attributed 13 more deaths to Covid-19 last week, down from 39 the week prior.

The weekly new-case rate was 7.99 cases per 100,000 residents, down from 9.23 in the prior weekly report. The top 10 counties were Trigg, 25.35 cases per 100,000; Adair, 20.09; Green, 19.59; Rockcastle, 17.97; Lewis, 17.22; Bell, 17.01; Russell, 16.74; Hopkins, 15.03; Bath, 14.86; and Metcalfe, 14.19. 

The New York Times ranks Kentucky's seven-day case rate third among states, even with a 27% decline in cases in the last two weeks. 

The newly formatted state report does not include does not include hospital numbers or positive-test rates. Test numbers have become largely unreliable since they do not include results from at-home testing. 

Reflections on the pandemic

Health Commissioner Steven Stack and Gov. Andy Beshear were asked at the governor's March 2 press conference to reflect on what they think future generations will say when they look back at the pandemic. 

Stack, a physician, said he hopes Kentuckians will remember how everyone pulled together to face this "once in a century" or once-in-a-generation event, and that graphs and charts won't reflect that. 

"Overwhelmingly, we came together and we worked together," Stack said. "It was hard, it was difficult, [it] disrupted our lives, all of those things are undeniable, but we faced it and confronted it together. . . . We were one Kentucky, and I think that's a big deal." 

As for what the charts and graphs will show, Stack said, "People are gonna pore over that for a very, very long time. But I am confident that we managed to flatten that curve at various points in time, that people taking actions that we asked them to take and looking out for their neighbors helped us to keep people alive and to save lives. And so I think when history looks back on this, it'll look back favorably on the four and a half million Kentuckians who all came together to look out for each other and save lives." 

Beshear, who is favored for re-election this year largely on the basis of public approval of his work during the early momths of the pandemic, said he thinks history will show "the most effective battle against a pandemic in human history." 

"Look at how quickly we got vaccines, you look at the initial projections of how many people we'd lose versus the number that we've lost," he said. " I think we will always look at some things and wonder if we could have done this or that a little bit better. But I don't think that negates the fact that this I think has been the most effective battle against a virus that came to kill as many of us as possible."

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