House passes bills to help health departments on pensions; may mean increased public-health taxes

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Two bills that were presented as part of a “three-phase approach” to create a sustainable solution to local health departments’ pension crisis passed the state House Feb. 13. The third part of the plan involves the state budget. The budget committee chair, Republican Rep. Steven Rudy of Paducah, cautioned…

Medicaid Reform Bill Passes Senate

BY MICHON LINDSTROM | KENTUCKY FRANKFORT, Ky- A bill to limit the number of Medicaid Managed Care Organizations in Kentucky has passed the Senate. Senate Bill 30 would lower the number of MCOs from five to three. Bill sponsor Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, says this will help save hospitals money and allow them to care for patients instead…

The Bottom Line: Lawmakers discuss Kentucky’s transportation funding needs

By Jacqueline Pitts, The Bottom Line FRANKFORT, Ky. — Executive branch officials testified before lawmakers Monday on the current transportation needs facing Kentucky and on the two-year Road Fund budget proposed by the Beshear administration. Robin Brewer, executive director of the Office of Budget and Fiscal Management, said Kentucky has seen a decline in Road Fund…

Kentucky House Passes Criminal Justice Measures

BY JOE RAGUSA | KENTUCKY FRANKFORT, Ky. – The House passed two criminal justice measures unanimously Monday. House Bill 284 creates a probation credit program for anyone serving probation, probation with an alternate sentence, or conditions discharge. The bill gives those people the opportunity to reduce their sentence by completing some level of school work, participating in a…