Author: Al Cross
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ACA open enrollment has been extended until 3 a.m. ET Wed., Dec. 18, but federal officials haven’t made a very big deal of it
Open enrollment for “Obamacare” health insurance has been extended until 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 18, because of extensive computer glitches that happened over the weekend. The original deadline...
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Kentucky had nation’s third largest increase in 2016-18 in percentage of children under 6 without health insurance
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Over the past two years, Kentucky saw the third largest increase in the nation for the percentage of children under 6 years of age...
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Northern Ky. Health Dept. declares hepatitis A outbreak over in 4 counties it serves; statewide, it may never be considered ‘over’
Top map shows the number of cases per county since the outbreak began in August 2017. Bottom map shows number of cases in November 2019. —– Dec. 16, 2019: Story...
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Four flu-related deaths have been reported in Kentucky; state health commissioner urges everyone to get vaccinated
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The Kentucky Department of Public Health has reported the first four influenza-related deaths of the 2019-2020 flu season, which runs through May. “We extend our condolences...
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Kentucky legislators have filed four bills targeting teen use of e-cigarettes; Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow is supporting two
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News As teen use of electronic cigarettes continues to surge, Kentucky lawmakers in both parties will be working to pass bills aimed at decreasing their...
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Bill would create first-aid training program for mental-health and substance-use crises; hope is to make it as common as CPR
Rep. Moser explains mental-health first aid. —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News A bill to create a training program for mental-health first aid has been pre-filed by state Rep....
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Medicaid contracts rejected by legislative committee; members of another panel see secrecy and rush to award $8 billion in deals
On Gov. Matt Bevin’s last day in office, Kentucky lawmakers in one committee voted unanimously to reject his administration’s recent approval of $8 billion in Medicaid managed-care contracts covering 1...
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Man who led implementation of Obamacare under Gov. Andy Beshear’s father will be acting health secretary, then deputy
Andy Beshear and Eric Friedlander —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Just hours before being sworn in as the state’s next governor, Andy Beshear named the remaining secretaries of...
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Dollar General plans to open 1,000 stores in 2020; some worry they contribute to poor nutrition in rural areas
Dollar General Corp., one of the fastest-growing retailers in the country, has announced it will open 1,000 new stores in 2020, just as it did last year. That’s on top...
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E-cigarette use among nation’s youth up 39% from last year; Fayette County school board votes to sue e-cig companies
National Youth Tobacco Survey graphic —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Teenagers’ use of electronic cigarettes continues to surge, increasing to more than 5 million in 2019 from 3.6...