by Sarah Anderson |

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WYMT) – Organizers from Kentucky Voices for Health held a community forum in Prestonsburg Monday night, to see what folks in the Big Sandy would like to see change in Governor Matt Bevin’s Medicaid proposal.

Executive Director of the group, Emily Beauregard, told WYMT the meeting happened during, what they call “the federal comment period,” which follows “the state comment period.”

“Once these comments are submitted and the period is over, people will start to negotiate,” Beauregard explained, “The feds and the state will start to negotiate on a plan that is good for Kentucky.”

During the state comment period, Beauregard said the Governor’s office received more than 1,4000 concerns regarding the proposal. She said Governor Bevin did make some changes, but she considers them small in retrospect. Now the comments submitted will be sent to the federal level.

“We’re asking people to take the opportunity to speak up and let the federal government know what they think about the changes,” she said.

If you missed Thursday’s meeting you can see the Kentucky Voices for Health Facebook page for other forums around the state.

The federal comment period for Governor Bevin’s revised proposal ends Saturday.