Pence, Bevin Meet in 'Coal Country'

Vice President Mike Pence visited eastern Kentucky on Thursday to discuss a major opioid grant, and a visit with military personnel conducting health clinics.

Governor Bevin was joined by Vice President Pence, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, and Congressman Hal Rogers where a major new opioid grant was announced, along with a visit to the military's innovative readiness training mission command center.

Pence announced more than $9 million in grants from the Department of Health and Human Services to help assist Kentucky in its fight against the opioid epidemic, including various grants for the universities of Pikeville and Eastern Kentucky University, along with Grace Community Health Center and others.

Pence, Azar, and Rogers were briefed by military commanders on the innovative readiness program 'Operation Coal Country.'  The program provides medical troops with hands-on readiness training, while also providing direct and lasting benefits to those who visit the clinic locations.  This years mission will be held in Clay, Jackson, Knox, and Leslie counties, and is projected to provide $1 million of care to communities that otherwise would not have been available.

"We are honored to host Vice President Pence and Secretary Azar in Kentucky and to have the opportunity to visit with military medical personnel participating in Operation Coal Country," said Gov. Bevin.

In 2018 the Kentucky Department for Local Government hosted 'Operation Bobcat,' which provided the military with 13,000 training hours, treated 2,662 patients, performed 11,275 procedures, and provided more than a million dollars in services to communities.