FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 24, 2025) - Today, Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball announced that the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman formally requested information from Governor Beshear's Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) about the recent widespread denials of Home and Community Based Waiver (HCBW) services to Kentucky children.
“My office is committed to ensuring that critical services reach the Kentuckians who need them most," Auditor Ball said. “We are investigating how this happened and are working to ensure safeguards are in place to prevent it from occurring again."
Recent reports indicate that a significant number of children with special needs were wrongly denied services during their annual HCBW eligibility reviews. This denial was apparently due to an error associated with a subcontractor of CHFS's Department for Medicaid Services. In a letter sent to CHFS Secretary Eric Friedlander, Auditor Ball's Office is seeking answers on behalf of families impacted by the improper denial of critical Medicaid waiver services for Kentuckians with disabilities.
The HCBW program helps Kentuckians with disabilities receive necessary services in their homes and communities to promote independence.
The letter sent to CHFS can be viewed here.
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