A parent in Kentucky reports that a state initiative serving adults suffering from severe mental health conditions remains inaccessible to her daughter because enrollment depends on having Medicaid.
Joyce visits her daughter four times a week at a state hospital where her daughter has stayed since January 2025, WKYT reported.
“I would love to be able to go to a restaurant with her, like we always did,” Joyce told WKYT. The family is not identifying the daughter.
Joyce said her daughter has bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and delusional thinking. Hospital stays grew longer when community programs stopped working, according to Joyce. Episodes of wandering for multiple days occurred due to delusions, though her daughter poses no threat to herself or others.
“They need a residential place that’s supervised 24/7 that will still give them some reasonable amount of freedom. Go outdoors. Go sit at a table and play some cards… I don’t want her to have the freedom to walk off again. I want somebody to know where she is,” Joyce said.
RISE Program Requirements
Recovery, Independence, Support and Engagement, abbreviated as RISE, is a Kentucky initiative designated for adults dealing with severe mental illness. The program includes supervised residential care. To qualify, a person must be on Medicaid.
“She has never been on Medicaid, so I’m having to get her Medicaid qualified in order for her to get in that program,” Joyce said. Joyce said that has been hard because her daughter still earns income from her years on TV as a child.
“I found out I had to have lawyers to do it,” Joyce said. Joyce is still trying to get her daughter qualified.
Joyce said there is a gap in care in Kentucky. Deficiencies in treatment availability were also noted by Tracie Horton, who serves as the chief executive officer of the Adanta Group, a private and non-profit community-based mental health facility.
“It really goes back to what the client can qualify for and circumstances and just things like that. But there are a number of gaps specifically in this case,” Horton told WKYT.
Medicaid waiver slots create extensive waiting lists
Horton said there are additional gaps in care in Kentucky and across the country.
“Even with the Medicaid programs, the waiver program specifically, there are a number of slots that are allocated annually, and so there is an extensive waiting list even for those individuals who do qualify under the Medicaid waivers,” Horton said.
Horton said the state is working to close gaps so Kentuckians can get the care they need.
“I do feel that the department is working in that direction, but they too are limited with finances and all of that that trickles down,” Horton said.
WKYT Investigates asked the state whether Kentucky recognizes a gap in supervised housing. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services stated via written release that addressing that shortfall constituted “a key innovation” of the RISE initiative, which debuted in January 2026.
State Officials Respond
According to the cabinet, home-like environments offering monitored residential care feature around-the-clock supervision, help with personal hygiene, and assistance with everyday activities. WKYT Investigates also asked what options are available for people who cannot qualify for Medicaid. The cabinet did not directly answer.
The cabinet said that “community mental health centers serve as the public behavioral health safety net.”
What the RISE program provides and who qualifies
What does the RISE program provide?
The program offers home and community-based services that support independent living, education, and employment. It includes supervised residential care providing 24-hour oversight, personal care assistance, and daily living support in a home-like environment.
Who qualifies for the RISE program?
To qualify for the program, an individual must be enrolled in Medicaid. The program is designed for adults with serious mental illness.
What role do community mental health centers play?
Community mental health centers serve as the public behavioral health safety net across all 120 counties in Kentucky. They provide services for individuals with mental health, addiction, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and co-occurring needs.
How can residents apply for Medicaid?
Residents can begin the eligibility process by visiting kynect.ky.gov, visiting a local office, or calling 1-855-306-8959.
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