Governor Beshear voices opposition to possible Medicaid cuts

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Democratic governors are teaming up to sound the alarm on threats to Medicaid and food assistance programs.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, the vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association, spoke during a briefing Thursday afternoon about the impact on programs across the commonwealth.

Initially, the Kentucky Hospital Association thanked Kentucky Republicans who voted for the legislation, like Representative Brett Guthrie of Bowling Green. Now, with the Senate version of the bill, they’re singing a different tune.

KHA President and CEO Nancy Galvagni says the steeper proposed cuts on the other side of the aisle could eliminate 20,000 healthcare jobs in the Bluegrass state.

As WKYT previously reported, 35 Kentucky hospitals are at risk of closing, more than any other state.

The Trump Administration is accusing his predecessor of allowing states and health care providers to “game the system” and boost Medicaid payments.

Meanwhile, an estimated 277,000 Kentuckians could lose their Medicaid coverage with the provisions in the House bill and that number could swell as high as 346,000.

If tax credits are allowed to expire, the number of uninsured Kentuckians is projected to rise by 21% according to the Urban Institute.

Some Democrats have started referring to it as the “Big Ugly Betrayal Bill.”

“We believe people should see a doctor in their own community. There’s nothing Democratic or Republican about that. I would be saying this message at the [Democratic Governors Association], the [Republican Governors Association], the [National Governors Association], or the IGA. Anywhere, everywhere we can let people know how this is going to impact their daily lives, because this is going to make their life a lot harder,” Governor Beshear said.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill say they are working overtime to get that “Big Beautiful Bill” passed before the weekend.

The White House has pushed for a July 4 deadline.