Overview
- Gov. Andy Beshear announced a transfer from a $400 million annex renovation fund to provide one year of funding for Lee Specialty Clinic and called the move a “Band-Aid” rather than a permanent solution.
- The clinic faces a $4.5 million cut that clinic leaders say could force roughly 80% of staff layoffs and end services for parts of its more than 1,300 patient caseload by July 15.
- Republican legislative leaders contend the governor has flexibility to move funds and dispute his account of responsibility for the cuts, creating a public standoff over who must restore long-term funding.
- Dozens of parents, staff and advocates rallied at the state Capitol and packed a Cabinet for Health and Family Services meeting to press officials to preserve medical, dental, therapy and behavioral supports the clinic provides.
- Advocates and officials warn that while the governor’s action preserves services for a year, the clinic’s future will depend on whether lawmakers restore recurring Medicaid and community-services funding in a later legislative session.