Health

Health includes the Department for Medicaid Services, the Department for Public Health, the Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and the Certificate of Need Office. These four departments report to the Office of the Undersecretary for Health, fostering a coordinated approach to health care issues in Kentucky.

The Department for Medicaid Services (DMS) directs quality health care outcomes for Medicaid members and manages all aspects of the state's insurance program for families and individuals with limited income and resources.

The Department for Public Health (DPH) coordinates a diverse group of programs that impact the health of all Kentuckians, including public health emergency preparedness, maternal and child health, chronic disease, nutrition and wellness, environmental health, epidemiology, the state public health laboratory, and working with the state’s network of local health departments.

The Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services (DMHMR) provides leadership, in partnership with others, to prevent disability, build resilience in individuals and their communities, and facilitate recovery for people whose lives have been affected by mental illness, mental retardation or other developmental disability, substance abuse or an acquired brain injury.

The Certificate of Need (CON) Office oversees the state's process to prevent the proliferation of health care facilities, health services and major medical equipment that increases the cost of quality health care within the Commonwealth.