It's important to remind our state legislators whenever we can about the needs of Kentucky youth. The decisions they make on state laws and budgets have a real impact for families!
As our legislators meet for the 2026 legislative session, their attention is split in many directions. That's why it's so important for lots of us to reach out!
We may not see the results we want in one session, but our efforts each year lay the ground work for future progress.
Here are a few ideas of ways you can raise your voice with us:
The Kentucky legislature had reserved $25 million for an adjustment to Medicaid reimbursement rates for the forthcoming fiscal year. KyUMH receives these funds for reimbursement for our services, but they are not nearly enough to cover the cost of the high-quality care we provide. This leads to long waiting lists for clients and staff turnover due to a lack of competitive wages.
As we met with legislators last year, we asked them to raise Medicaid behavioral health service rates so we can address the overwhelming amount of youth and families struggling with mental health and substance use concerns.
