For Kentuckians with substance use disorders (SUDs), the stakes are high. Amid an ongoing overdose epidemic that has hit our state exceptionally hard, House Resolution 1 will only thwart our ability to obtain lifesaving care by adding red tape to Medicaid and gutting the program, which over 20% of adults with an SUD nationwide rely on for treatment access (KFF).
This summer, Congress passed H.R. 1 and signed it into law. Among its many provisions, the bill drastically cuts federal funding to Medicaid — the nation’s largest health care payer, including for addiction treatment — and mandates new work reporting requirements for those who gained coverage through Medicaid expansion.
Billy O’Bryan serves as the Kentucky program director for Young People in Recovery, a national nonprofit committed to empowering youth and young adults navigating recovery from substance use disorders. He also holds the role of president of the Board of Directors for the Louisville Recovery Community Connection, a grassroots recovery center that connects individuals with substance use disorders to vital resources, services, and a supportive recovery network.
Tara Moseley Hyde is the CEO of People Advocating Recovery, a statewide nonprofit that works to eliminate barriers to recovery from substance use disorder. Hyde has been in long-term recovery since 2011 and was appointed CEO in 2022. She serves on the Kentucky Recovery Housing Network’s advisory board and the SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment National Advisory Council.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.