Author: Al Cross
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Guide aims to help rural communities deal with substance abuse
The White House Office of Drug Control Policy and the Department of Agriculture have released a Rural Community Action Guide to help rural places address substance-abuse problems. It includes “promising practices for a range of issues...
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New nutrition labels use larger portion sizes and list added sugar, which can cause many health issues; here are ways to limit it
Nutrition fact labels are the primary source of information about what’s in the food we eat, and they recently got their first update in 20 years. The Food and Drug Administration says it...
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Elections have consequences: Planned Parenthood gets license to perform abortions in Louisville, starting in March
Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky announced Jan. 31 that it has received a provisional license from Kentucky to perform abortions, allowing it to become the second provider in the state,...
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Beshear’s budget offers pension reprieve for health departments
Before the legislature froze health departments’ pension contributions last year, the Department of Public Health made this map, which is based on 2019 data but still shows their relative financial health....
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Poll finds rise in Ky. adults who misuse prescription drugs, but experts say that likely stems from more awareness, not more use
A new poll shows an uptick in the number of Kentucky adults who report knowing someone who misuses prescription drugs, but experts say that’s likely the result of an increase...
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Flu cases in Ky. show a slight uptick, with three more deaths reported; best defense is a flu shot; season runs through May
Kentucky Health News New cases of influenza saw a slight uptick in Kentucky during the week ended Jan. 25, and three more Kentuckians were reported dying from it, one under...
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Bill to let physician assistants prescribe passes first hurdle; Ky. is only state where they can’t, causing health-care access issues
L-R: Andrew Rutherford, Rep. Steve Sheldon, Laurie Garner —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill to allow physician assistants to prescribe drugs, a step advocates is...
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U.S. declares public health emergency from coronavirus; misinformation about it is spreading faster than the disease itself
Trying to prevent spread of coronavirus, federal officials said Friday that the government would keep foreign nationals who recently visited China from entering the United States, and would quarantine some...
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Democratic governor wants cigarette-tax hike, new tax on electronic cigarettes, not as much as one Republican’s bill
Gov. Andy Beshear makes his budget speech. (KET image) —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News To pay for such things as a teacher-pay increase and 350 news social workers to...
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Dr. Steven Stack, Lexington emergency physician and 2016 AMA president, named to lead state Department for Public Health
Dr. Steven Stack —– Dr. Steven Stack of Lexington, an emergency physician and the 2016 president of the American Medical Association, will be the new commissioner of the state Department for Public...