Well, today, Governor Andy Beshear announced a short term solution for Lee Specialty Clinic.

This is the only clinic of its kind in the state, specializing in treatment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Patients of the clinic and their caregivers came out in droves to yesterday's Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board meeting in Frankfort, pleading for help.

Our Emily Prins has more on the fate of the clinic.

Let me be very, very clear again.

This is a Band-Aid solution.

Governor Andy Beshear said he's taking action, moving millions of dollars from the Republican Supermajorities two year state budget to help keep the Lee Special Day Clinic in Louisville fully operational for the next fiscal year.

The cut about 4.5 million will be filled unless the super majority wants to challenge the movement of the money.

The governor said he's taking that money away from a construction project on the Capitol Annex, which he says wouldn't begin until 2029 anyway.

The super majority shouldn't be building a Taj Mahal for themselves while families with disabilities are suffering.

It's been a back and forth blame game over the cuts to Lee Specialty Clinic between Governor Beshear and the Republican supermajority in the legislature.

House Speaker Republican David Osborne responded to Beshear's announcement, saying, quote, once again, the governor created a crisis just so he can appear to save the day.

This entire situation was unwarranted and has caused tremendous anxiety and hardship for the Kentuckians who rely on these vital services.

Funding for the Lee clinic has been included in the budget passed by the General Assembly from the very beginning.

Furthermore, moving money raises additional questions about what he plans to do with the funding that was already provided in quote.

It is yet to be seen if the legislature will challenge Beshear's decision.

Families who utilize the clinic packed the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board meeting yesterday in Frankfort, wearing yellow shirts that read save Lee clinic.org.

Dozens of patients and their caregivers addressed lawmakers with concerns over the fate of the clinic.

We know that the support is coming from the legislature, and I know it's coming from the cabinet, but for some reason, a ball got dropped and for some reason the patients became the ball in whatever game was going on.

I just ask that it stop.

Why are we upon in this political game between the executive and the and the legislature executed by the cabinet?

During yesterday's committee meeting, Republican Co-Chair Representative Ken Fleming blamed the Beshear administration, saying they were responsible for eliminating the clinic's contract.

When Doctor Steven Stack, secretary of the cabinet for Health and Family Services, asked to respond, Representative Fleming initially denied his request.

Mr.

chair, thank you for the effort.

We have concluded, which, Mr.

Chair concluded, I. Respectfully ask for the opportunity to comment.

Mr.. Mr.. Doctor.

That's Doctor stack.

You have made political statements.

He had blamed the General Assembly.

The governor has, has has gone through the process.

Y'all have made your position known, quite known of what you're all trying to go through.

So with that Mr.. Jackson being silenced.

After an uproar from the crowd and some Democratic lawmakers, Fleming allowed Doctor Stack to speak.

I don't believe for a minute that members of the General Assembly or the executive branch intended to make the families and their loved ones political pawns in any game.

I think that choices and decisions have consequences.

Budgetary decisions have to be made.

The budget that was passed did not contain enough resources to do all the things the cabinet does.

I don't want to argue with the legislature in this venue.

Caregivers and a doctor at Lee Specialty Clinic spoke with me after yesterday's committee meeting, saying they want reassurance that services will continue indefinitely.

We are left wondering who to turn to because they're blaming each other.

I don't care whose fault it is.

The patients at the clinic don't care whose fault it is.

They don't care about politics.

You know.

I just want it fixed.

Because this will literally be a crisis.

Beshear said with his current plan.

The clinic will be funded until June 30th of next year.

He said it's his hope that the legislature can allocate more funding during the 2027 legislative session to keep the clinics going.

For Kentucky edition, I'm Emily Prince.

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