Government

The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce has selected Sandra Wilson to serve as its new president.

Wilson is a city commissioner and has most recently worked as the public affairs officer for the NewPage paper mill in Wickliffe. Wilson succeeds Elaine Spaulding, who stepped down in March after 13 years as the Chamber of Commerce's president.

  The Hopkins County Board of Health may learn in two weeks whether they'll settle an ongoing dispute with a Medicaid Managed care Organization.  Board Director Jack Morris said a judge will decide in two weeks whether Kentucky Spirit is liable for the $190,000  owed to the Health Department for services provided in state schools. Kentucky Spirit claims it didn’t understand the obligations despite signing a binding three-year contract with the state. Board Chairman Dr. Tristan Linesberry said the organizer’s position is an untenable situation.

16th district Illinois Congressman Bill Enyart has introduced federal legislation to speed up the benefit claims for disabled veterans. Enyart said there are over 900,000 disability claims waiting to be processed by the Veterans Administration, some of which were filed over a year ago.

Kentucky businesses, both large and small, are running out of time to prepare for new federal health care regulations.

In just over 7 months, the so-called ‘pay or play’ provision kicks in.  Starting next year, employers with more than 50 workers are required to provide health insurance coverage or risk penalties.

Kentucky health care lawyer Vickie Yates Brown said such a policy may not result in immediate employee reductions, but she says it could impact future hiring.