KENTUCKY YOUTH ADVOCATES - Press Release

September 3 , 2008

For additional information or comment, contact:

Terry Brooks

502-895-8167 #113 (O)
502-235-2396 (C)

Lacey McNary

502-895-8167 #117 (O)

502-419-7335 (C)

 THE BESHEAR PLAN:

A Win for Kentucky’s Families and Children

Today Governor Beshear announced measures to simplify health insurance enrollment, increase outreach, and improve health outcomes for children in Kentucky. In response to Governor Beshear’s announcement about an extensive retrofit of the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP), Terry Brooks, Executive Director of Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA), stated, “The Beshear Plan is a real win for Kentucky’s families and children.  It also transcends the children’s agenda as it is a firewall for Kentucky’s long-term economic and health future.  This will be the signature policy accomplishment for the administration’s first year.  The fact that the Governor is going to transform campaign promises into daily realities for the Commonwealth’s children is as refreshing as it is significant. 

The Governor’s plan reflects a key priority in the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, an effort in which dozens of allies across the state are partnering.  The Blueprint is entering its second year and focuses on a limited set of recommendations in key areas, including “Safe and Healthy Families”, “A Fair Opportunity for Every Child” and “A Fair Deal for Working Parents.”   Lacey McNary, KYA’s Deputy Director, points out that “eliminating face to face interviews was identified as a key priority for action by more than 60 allied groups across the state in the Blueprint process.  It means that Kentucky joins some 45 other states in removing what was a truly archaic barrier for enrollment.  We are convinced that there is no better step that the Governor could have taken to improve children’s health in Kentucky.”

KYA officials underscored the importance of the Beshear Plan’s outreach efforts.  “The Governor’s plan shows real creativity in making sure that the goal of improving children's health becomes a reality.  His intent to reach out to labor, business leaders and faith communities highlights the administration’s understanding that success in increasing access will be neither easy nor simple.  It will require a rare kind of teamwork that engages unlikely allies around a common theme to ensure that every Kentucky child has health coverage,” Brooks adds.

McNary points out that the Beshear Plan reflects several important national lessons around best practice.  “Its emphasis upon ‘the family as a customer’ is encouraging and demonstrates lessons learned from related health coverage efforts in Medicaid transformation.” She adds, “This effort – especially seen in the light of the General Assembly’s action around dental care – points to a brighter day for Kentucky’s children.  It will mean easier access and higher levels of retention – and that will mean healthier Kentucky kids.” 

Brooks concludes, “This is not to say the job for children’s health is done.  For instance, we see a next step challenge is addressing the kids in the middle.  These are the children whose families neither qualify for KCHIP nor can afford private insurance.  We hope that now becomes an emerging challenge the Commonwealth tackles as another commitment to Kentucly’s youngest citizens.”

For more information on Kentucky’s Blueprint for Children, visit www.kyyouth.org. . For specific county level data or to read KYA “Fact Sheet” on this issue that was released during the 2008 General Assembly, please call Brooks or McNary.

Kentucky Youth Advocates is a non-partisan, non-profit, children's advocacy organization. KYA represents a voice for Kentucky's most precious asset – its youth.  We believe that Kentucky's youth deserve the opportunities and resources necessary to ensure their productive development and health.