On Wednesday, Gov. Andy Beshear discussed health care priorities included in his budget.
To help address the nursing shortage, Beshear included $6 million dollars in nursing scholarships. He also announced funding that he says aims to retain nurses in Kentucky.
“My budget would create a student loan forgiveness program that would provide up to $3,000 annually. For each year, a nurse or nursing faculty member is employed in and stays in their position in Kentucky,” he said.
Beshear said the loan forgiveness program would last for up to five years potentially forgiving $15,000 in student loans for nurses.
The governor’s budget also includes millions of dollars for nursing homes, public health departments and community mental health centers.
Beshear also said funding for a new three digit suicide crisis line is included. The new three digit number will replace the one-eight-hundred number for the national suicide hotline.
They expect it'll increase calls 56%. Think about that. These are calls by folks that may be suicidal themselves, or family members that are desperately in immediately needing help,” Beshear said.
The governor’s budget also included a 34% increase for child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers and domestic violence centers.
