Dustin Pugel
@dustinpugel.bsky.social
Husband, dad, wonk with @kypolicy.bsky.social & runner (preferably on trails). Trying to bring Shalom to the commonwealth. The plural of anecdote is not data.
New update on November SNAP benefits in Kentucky:
November 6, 2025 at 8:33 PM
New update on November SNAP benefits in Kentucky:
Many Kentuckians to pay hundreds or even thousands more for health insurance next year - @lpm.org
www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
October 30, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Many Kentuckians to pay hundreds or even thousands more for health insurance next year - @lpm.org
www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
The three insurance carriers on the marketplace know this, and are particularly worried about "young invincibles" (who keep premiums lower for everyone) leaving the marketplace, and worsening the risk pool.
That's why they are increasing rates by as much as 37% this year.
That's why they are increasing rates by as much as 37% this year.
September 22, 2025 at 4:39 PM
The three insurance carriers on the marketplace know this, and are particularly worried about "young invincibles" (who keep premiums lower for everyone) leaving the marketplace, and worsening the risk pool.
That's why they are increasing rates by as much as 37% this year.
That's why they are increasing rates by as much as 37% this year.
The result of this collapsed floor is that the minimum wage is below the poverty threshold for a full-time, year-round worker.
Because nearly half a million Kentuckians earn below a more livable wage ($17 per hour), many workers now use public aid for things like food and medicine.
Because nearly half a million Kentuckians earn below a more livable wage ($17 per hour), many workers now use public aid for things like food and medicine.
July 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The result of this collapsed floor is that the minimum wage is below the poverty threshold for a full-time, year-round worker.
Because nearly half a million Kentuckians earn below a more livable wage ($17 per hour), many workers now use public aid for things like food and medicine.
Because nearly half a million Kentuckians earn below a more livable wage ($17 per hour), many workers now use public aid for things like food and medicine.
Today marks 16 years since the last minimum wage increase. Because of inflation and inaction, America's (and Kentucky's) wage floor is now less than half its previous peak, and below the poverty line for the first time.
We're now at our lowest, inflation-adjusted minimum wage since December 1949.
We're now at our lowest, inflation-adjusted minimum wage since December 1949.
July 24, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Today marks 16 years since the last minimum wage increase. Because of inflation and inaction, America's (and Kentucky's) wage floor is now less than half its previous peak, and below the poverty line for the first time.
We're now at our lowest, inflation-adjusted minimum wage since December 1949.
We're now at our lowest, inflation-adjusted minimum wage since December 1949.
July 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM
July 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Also, nearly *1 in 10* rural Americans who would have their health coverage terminated under these Medicaid cuts live right here in Kentucky. 133,000!
Again - look at that giant bar all the way to the left. Good god.
Again - look at that giant bar all the way to the left. Good god.
June 27, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Also, nearly *1 in 10* rural Americans who would have their health coverage terminated under these Medicaid cuts live right here in Kentucky. 133,000!
Again - look at that giant bar all the way to the left. Good god.
Again - look at that giant bar all the way to the left. Good god.
See that giant bar all the way to the left? That's how much rural Kentucky stands to lose under the proposed federal Medicaid cuts.
We wouldn't just lose more than any other state, we'd lose around twice as much as any other state.
kff.org/policy-watch...
We wouldn't just lose more than any other state, we'd lose around twice as much as any other state.
kff.org/policy-watch...
June 27, 2025 at 6:14 PM
See that giant bar all the way to the left? That's how much rural Kentucky stands to lose under the proposed federal Medicaid cuts.
We wouldn't just lose more than any other state, we'd lose around twice as much as any other state.
kff.org/policy-watch...
We wouldn't just lose more than any other state, we'd lose around twice as much as any other state.
kff.org/policy-watch...
June 24, 2025 at 9:13 PM
The phrase: "waste, fraud, and abuse!" is rarely used to describe actual waste, fraud or abuse, but instead used as a politically palatable way of cutting popular programs without scaring the people who use them (and stand to lose from said cuts).
June 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The phrase: "waste, fraud, and abuse!" is rarely used to describe actual waste, fraud or abuse, but instead used as a politically palatable way of cutting popular programs without scaring the people who use them (and stand to lose from said cuts).
By the way, its no accident that Medicaid spending to providers represents over 13% of GDP in eastern Kentucky. Look at these maps together - rural hospitals are a massive economic driver in an otherwise distressed Appalachian region.
What happens if they close?
What happens if they close?
June 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
By the way, its no accident that Medicaid spending to providers represents over 13% of GDP in eastern Kentucky. Look at these maps together - rural hospitals are a massive economic driver in an otherwise distressed Appalachian region.
What happens if they close?
What happens if they close?
The @uncshepscenter.bsky.social put together a list of high-Medicaid-paid rural hospitals with negative operating margins in recent years to point out which would be most vulnerable to closure under the proposed federal Medicaid cuts.
1 in 10 of them were in KY - more than anywhere else.
1 in 10 of them were in KY - more than anywhere else.
June 18, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The @uncshepscenter.bsky.social put together a list of high-Medicaid-paid rural hospitals with negative operating margins in recent years to point out which would be most vulnerable to closure under the proposed federal Medicaid cuts.
1 in 10 of them were in KY - more than anywhere else.
1 in 10 of them were in KY - more than anywhere else.
New CBO coverage loss estimates are out. From inaction on the enhanced marketplace subsidies and cuts to Medicaid, they estimate that *16 million* people will lose their health insurance.
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
June 4, 2025 at 6:50 PM
New CBO coverage loss estimates are out. From inaction on the enhanced marketplace subsidies and cuts to Medicaid, they estimate that *16 million* people will lose their health insurance.
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
New CBO score on the version of the U.S. House bill to cut Medicaid & SNAP to pay for tax cuts that came out of the budget committee.
The short version is the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
The short version is the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
May 21, 2025 at 5:23 PM
New CBO score on the version of the U.S. House bill to cut Medicaid & SNAP to pay for tax cuts that came out of the budget committee.
The short version is the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
The short version is the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
The size of the current U.S. House cut to Medicaid is larger than all previous cuts to Medicaid combined.
No Medicaid enrollee, health care employee or state administrator/legislator has ever lived through anything like it before.
unidosus.org/blog/2025/02...
No Medicaid enrollee, health care employee or state administrator/legislator has ever lived through anything like it before.
unidosus.org/blog/2025/02...
May 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The size of the current U.S. House cut to Medicaid is larger than all previous cuts to Medicaid combined.
No Medicaid enrollee, health care employee or state administrator/legislator has ever lived through anything like it before.
unidosus.org/blog/2025/02...
No Medicaid enrollee, health care employee or state administrator/legislator has ever lived through anything like it before.
unidosus.org/blog/2025/02...
New analysis from The Century Foundation showing the House-proposed health care cuts would increase the number of uninsured Americans by 50%.
This would likely be more for KY than most states because we expanded Medicaid - a key target of the cuts.
tcf.org/content/comm...
This would likely be more for KY than most states because we expanded Medicaid - a key target of the cuts.
tcf.org/content/comm...
May 13, 2025 at 7:36 PM
New analysis from The Century Foundation showing the House-proposed health care cuts would increase the number of uninsured Americans by 50%.
This would likely be more for KY than most states because we expanded Medicaid - a key target of the cuts.
tcf.org/content/comm...
This would likely be more for KY than most states because we expanded Medicaid - a key target of the cuts.
tcf.org/content/comm...
A lot of the conversation around federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP is couched in proposals to shift hundreds of billions in spending to states.
Each of these proposals threaten health care and food assistance, along with other state budget priorities like education and public safety.
Each of these proposals threaten health care and food assistance, along with other state budget priorities like education and public safety.
May 7, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A lot of the conversation around federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP is couched in proposals to shift hundreds of billions in spending to states.
Each of these proposals threaten health care and food assistance, along with other state budget priorities like education and public safety.
Each of these proposals threaten health care and food assistance, along with other state budget priorities like education and public safety.
Medicaid is the backbone of health coverage in Kentucky - and that is by far its most important role.
Often unlooked, however, is the substantial role it plays in our economy. Through the care it pays for, jobs are created, workers supported, and economic activity is generated.
Often unlooked, however, is the substantial role it plays in our economy. Through the care it pays for, jobs are created, workers supported, and economic activity is generated.
May 6, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Medicaid is the backbone of health coverage in Kentucky - and that is by far its most important role.
Often unlooked, however, is the substantial role it plays in our economy. Through the care it pays for, jobs are created, workers supported, and economic activity is generated.
Often unlooked, however, is the substantial role it plays in our economy. Through the care it pays for, jobs are created, workers supported, and economic activity is generated.
In Kentucky, 49 out of 50 adults covered by Medicaid are engaged in our community in some way, and the last 1 is categorized as "other."
There's no defensible reason to force them to do busywork on top of that just so they can go to a doctor or get their prescriptions filled. Its bad policy.
There's no defensible reason to force them to do busywork on top of that just so they can go to a doctor or get their prescriptions filled. Its bad policy.
March 21, 2025 at 2:59 PM
In Kentucky, 49 out of 50 adults covered by Medicaid are engaged in our community in some way, and the last 1 is categorized as "other."
There's no defensible reason to force them to do busywork on top of that just so they can go to a doctor or get their prescriptions filled. Its bad policy.
There's no defensible reason to force them to do busywork on top of that just so they can go to a doctor or get their prescriptions filled. Its bad policy.
I’m an avid follower of ultra races and the craziest is the Barkley Marathons down in Frozen Head State park, TN which finished this year with NO FINISHERS, after the RD “Laz” made it harder.
This is a pic from last year’s which had 5 finishers. Apparently Laz saw this image and thought “too easy.”
This is a pic from last year’s which had 5 finishers. Apparently Laz saw this image and thought “too easy.”
March 20, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I’m an avid follower of ultra races and the craziest is the Barkley Marathons down in Frozen Head State park, TN which finished this year with NO FINISHERS, after the RD “Laz” made it harder.
This is a pic from last year’s which had 5 finishers. Apparently Laz saw this image and thought “too easy.”
This is a pic from last year’s which had 5 finishers. Apparently Laz saw this image and thought “too easy.”
Mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education will severely undermine its work, especially in areas like civil rights, legal compliance, and ELL.
wapo.st/3R8Kba9
wapo.st/3R8Kba9
March 13, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education will severely undermine its work, especially in areas like civil rights, legal compliance, and ELL.
wapo.st/3R8Kba9
wapo.st/3R8Kba9
Kentucky Rep. Brett Guthrie chairs a committee that's been assigned to cut $880 billion from Medicaid. But that district has 234,382 people covered by Medicaid, or 30.7% of the population.
4 of our 6 districts are in the top 100 for largest share of residents covered by Medicaid.
4 of our 6 districts are in the top 100 for largest share of residents covered by Medicaid.
March 3, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Kentucky Rep. Brett Guthrie chairs a committee that's been assigned to cut $880 billion from Medicaid. But that district has 234,382 people covered by Medicaid, or 30.7% of the population.
4 of our 6 districts are in the top 100 for largest share of residents covered by Medicaid.
4 of our 6 districts are in the top 100 for largest share of residents covered by Medicaid.
PS - If you want to see the impact of Medicaid where you live, we've got a map that shows how many folks are covered and how much is spent through their healthcare each year.
February 27, 2025 at 8:42 PM
PS - If you want to see the impact of Medicaid where you live, we've got a map that shows how many folks are covered and how much is spent through their healthcare each year.