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Medicaid​ Cuts Threaten Rural Kentucky Recovery Services,Advocates Warn

FRANKFORT,KY – ⁤ Proposed Medicaid cuts in Kentucky stand to decimate access‌ to ⁣vital substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support services in rural communities,potentially reversing hard-won gains in the fight against the⁣ opioid‍ crisis,advocates warned Monday.The‍ cuts, part of a broader⁢ state budget proposal,‍ target funding for‍ addiction treatment centers, recovery housing,⁤ and peer support services – resources already stretched thin in many of Kentucky’s most vulnerable counties.

The proposed reductions come as Kentucky continues to grapple with the lingering ⁢effects of the opioid epidemic and a ​recent surge in overdose deaths involving fentanyl. Experts fear that diminishing access‌ to care will push individuals back into active addiction, overwhelm​ already burdened emergency services, ⁢and ultimately‌ lead to a resurgence ⁢of overdose rates reminiscent of the crisis’s peak. “These cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they are lives at stake,” said Billy O’Bryan, Kentucky program ‍director for Young People in Recovery (YPR). “Rural Kentucky has been disproportionately impacted by the substance ⁣use disorder ‍crisis, and these‍ services are a lifeline for so many.”

The specific impact of the cuts remains unclear as the state ‍budget process ⁣unfolds, but concerns ‍center ‍on‍ potential reductions to Medicaid managed care ‌rates for SUD services and eligibility changes⁤ that could disqualify individuals in​ recovery. Tara moseley Hyde, CEO of People⁣ Advocating Recovery (PAR), emphasized ‍the critical role Medicaid plays in funding ‌recovery infrastructure. “Medicaid is the ⁤primary payer for substance use disorder ‌treatment in Kentucky,” ​Hyde stated. “Reducing funding will inevitably lead ​to program closures, reduced capacity, and fewer people ⁢able to access ⁣the care they desperately need.”

Kentucky ‌has made significant strides in expanding access to SUD treatment in recent years, including increasing the availability of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and⁢ recovery housing. ⁣ However, these gains are fragile,‌ particularly ⁤in rural areas where transportation barriers, provider ‌shortages,⁤ and stigma remain significant⁣ obstacles to care. ​advocates argue that‌ cutting ⁣Medicaid ‍funding now would undermine these ‌efforts and jeopardize the progress made.

The Louisville recovery Community Connection (LRCC), a​ grassroots recovery center, and ​YPR⁢ are⁣ among‍ the organizations mobilizing to oppose the cuts and advocate for continued investment in recovery​ services. PAR ⁢is working to educate policymakers ‌about the potential consequences of the proposed reductions and to highlight the economic benefits of investing in recovery. The state legislature ‍is expected to⁣ continue debate on the budget in the coming⁢ weeks, with a final decision ​anticipated later this year.