Lt. Gov. Coleman Releases New Report on Women’s Health in Kentucky

Lieutenant Governor joins Kentucky Commission on Women, Cabinet for Health and Family Services to issue findings

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 9, 2026) - Today, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman joined the Kentucky Commission on Women (KCW) and officials from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) to release a new report on the status of women's health in Kentucky.

"As we celebrate Women's History Month, there is no better time to assess the status of women's health in Kentucky," said Lt. Gov. Coleman. "As someone whose life was saved by early detection through screenings, we should celebrate the advances that have been made for women's health while also admitting there are severe deficits and far too many women cannot access the care they need and deserve. This work becomes more important as our state faces devastating cuts to Medicaid that will severely harm women's health in the commonwealth."

The report was developed in partnership with the Division of Women's Health at CHFS and is a collection of public health data indicators related to Kentucky women, such as rates of insurance coverage, chronic disease prevalence, cancer mortality rates, mental health data, domestic violence rates, perinatal and maternal health indicators, and data related to the well-being of high school girls.

"Team Kentucky is committed to promoting high quality maternity care so all women and babies in our commonwealth are healthy, well, and reach their full potential. Healthy moms and babies make for thriving Kentucky communities," said CHFS Secretary Dr. Steven Stack.

Among the findings, 8% of Kentucky women find themselves uninsured. This is on par with the national average.

Some examples of opportunities for improvement include:

• Kentucky has the highest cancer mortality rate in the nation.
• Nearly 22% of Kentucky women, ages 18-44, report their mental health was not good.
• Nearly one half of women experienced domestic violence or stalking during their lifetime.
• Nearly 1 in 10 Kentucky high school girls attempt suicide.

You may find the report in its entirety here.

"Access to health care for women in the commonwealth goes beyond being a medical issue; it's an economic, family and community issue," said Marisa Aull, a member of the Kentucky Commission on Women who resides in Lexington. "When women in Kentucky can access the care they need, their families are stronger, their children are healthier, and all our communities thrive."

This release comes on the heels of the KCW's 2024 Status of Women in Kentucky, which highlighted workforce rates, business ownership, earnings and education. During the research for that report, members of the KCW determined that a separate report should be focused on women's health.

About the Kentucky Commission on Women
The Kentucky Commission on Women is dedicated to elevating the status of women and girls in the commonwealth, empowering them to overcome barriers to equity, and expanding opportunities to achieve their fullest potential. Commissioners represent a diverse mix of personal and professional backgrounds and hail from all parts of the commonwealth.

In response to President John F. Kennedy's creation of the President's Commission on the Status of Women, Kentucky Gov. Edward T. Breathitt established a state commission in April 1964 to study and report on the status of Kentucky women. The findings demonstrated a pronounced need for a permanent agency to promote the improvement of women's status. In November 1968, Gov. Louie Nunn signed the executive order establishing the KCW.

Funding was cut for the KCW during the previous administration. When Gov. Andy Beshear was inaugurated in 2019, he asked Lt. Gov. Coleman to resurrect the Commission on Women, and the Governor has included funding for the commission in each of his budget proposals. Unfortunately, the General Assembly has not supported this funding in its final budget bills.

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