FRANKFORT, Ky. (September 18, 2024) - Auditor Allison Ball released the following statement after the court required CHFS to reach an agreement via mediation to grant iTWIST access to the Ombudsman Office.
“The Ombudsman finally has iTWIST access to advocate for and protect vulnerable children and adults across Kentucky. While it is unfortunate that it required a lawsuit for the Governor and CHFS to agree to restore the necessary iTWIST access to the Ombudsman’s Office, I am pleased with today’s outcome. I’ve heard from many concerned Kentuckians—real people who have experienced everything from subpar service to mistreatment from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services—who are concerned that CHFS would retaliate against them if they speak up. These Kentuckians and our Commonwealth’s most vulnerable have been at the forefront of my mind during negotiations with CHFS. The agreed order entered by the Court today makes sure that the Governor and CHFS can no longer stop the Ombudsman from accessing iTWIST. They can no longer try to look over the Ombudsman’s shoulder while we fight to help people.”
BACKGROUND: Following the Ombudsman’s move from CHFS to the Auditor’s Office in July 2024, CHFS refused to allow the Ombudsman access to this database as it has always had. The agreed order came after Auditor Ball and Ombudsman Grate filed suit in Franklin Circuit Court requesting the court to restore the full, direct, and real-time access to iTWIST permitted to the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman under the law.
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