Author: Al Cross
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Most on Medicaid will have co-payments starting Jan. 1; foes say it’s a barrier to care, proponents say it improves engagement
By Melissa PatrickKentucky Health NewsStarting Jan. 1, most adult Medicaid beneficiaries in Kentucky will be required to make co-payments for many of their health-care services, a rule change that prompted...
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Good news: About 1/2 of Ky. adults got a flu shot in the past 12 months. Bad news: About 1/2 didn’t. It’s not too late to get one.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention graphic — By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News A new Kentucky Health Issues Poll found that about half of Kentucky adults got a flu...
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More children in state and nation lack health insurance; Kentucky kids’ uninsured rate rose to 3.8% in 2017, from 3.3% in 2016
Photo by Steve Debenport ___ By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News For the first time in nearly a decade, the number of uninsured children in the United States and Kentucky...
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Surgeon general issues national advisory on epidemic use of youth e-cig use; all agree it will take everyone to curb epidemic
Juul e-cigarette. Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky photo. — By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health NewsElectronic-cigarette use among teens is so widespread that the top U.S. public health official has issued...
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AG Andy Beshear says he will ‘lead the fight’ to overturn Texas federal judge’s ruling that Obamacare is unconstitutional
Republican Gov. Matt Bevin shakes hands with Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear before one of Bevin’s State of the Commonwealth speeches. (AP photo by Timothy Easley) — A federal judge in Texas has...
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As support for medical marijuana in Kentucky increases, a resolution asks the federal government to speed research on it
Rep. Danny Bentley and Dianne McFarling, a certified prevention specialist, spoke at the Dec. 12 interim joint health committee meeting. (Photo by Melissa Patrick) — By Melissa Patrick and Al Cross...
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Ky.’s hepatitis A outbreak is over 3,000 cases. It may be slacking off, but it’s done that before. Advice: wash hands, get vaccinated.
Kentucky’s hepatitis A outbreak appears to have hit a plateau or even be slacking off, but it has made such moves before, and then resurged. And the state continues to...
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Kentucky’s spending on tobacco prevention and cessation goes up, but still falls far short of federal recommendations
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids chart — Kentucky leads the nation in smoking and tobacco-related health costs, but ranks 35th in how much it spends from tobacco-tax revenue and the millions...
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Court of Appeals OKs release of court records that could reveal more about how company promoted OxyContin, opioid epidemic
Purdue Pharma is privately held. (AP photo by Douglas Healey) — The state Court of Appeals on Friday upheld a Pike County judge’s ruling to release secret records about the marketing...
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If Ky. teenagers’ use of e-cigarettes continues at its current pace, look for a new generation of adult smokers, conference is told
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kentucky teachers have plenty to keep up with in the schools, which can cause an issue like teenagers’ vaping of electronic cigarettes to get...