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Dakota Midday: Kentucky Director Touts State-Run Exchanges

The roll-out of the federal health insyrance exchange in late 2013 under the Affordable Care Act was troubled with site crashes and long wait times. Of the states that launched their own exchanges, Kentucky had one of the most trouble-free sites. Kentucky is a red state and the only southern state to fully embrace the Affordable Care Act.

Kentucky health officials have said that the portion of uninsured people in the state has dropped from 20 percent to 11 percent since enrollment began. But the Kentucky Hospital Association released a report last week saying that under the Affordable Care Act, hospitals will lose more money in payment cuts that they will gain in revenue from expanded coverage.

Carrie Banahan is the executive director of the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange, or Kynect,  as the state’s initiative is called.  She’s a 32-year veteran of Kentucky state government. She served as deputy commissioner of the Department of Insurance and later as the deputy Medicaid commissioner before becoming the governor’s health policy adviser. Banahan was in Rapid City and joined Dakota Midday to discuss Kentucky's experiences with a state-run exchange.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.
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