Author: Al Cross
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As national smoking rate has declined, Kentucky’s has gone up
Randy Jackson, 50, of Louisville, said he’s smoked for 20 years. (Photo by Aaron Borton, special to The Courier-Journal) “Kentucky has failed to keep up with the nation’s gains in...
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UK Children’s Hospital plans to resume heart surgeries after hiatus caused by deaths of five children, departure of surgeon
The University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital plans to resume heart surgeries, following a suspension of the program prompted by the deaths of five children in 11 months and the departure...
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Columnist responds to poll on smoking ban; he, another foe and two advocates will debate it on KET’s ‘Kentucky Tonight’
Jim Waters of the Bluegrass Institute, which bills itself as “Kentucky’s free-market think tank,” sees “reasonable doubt” in the recent Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky poll that found two out of...
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Appalachian Regional Hospitals use untruthful information to encourage Obamacare signups; CEO says he has no regrets
The Appalachian Regional Healthcare system has posted notices in its 10 hospitals that “provides an incorrect web address to sign up for federally mandated health coverage, falsely states uninsured patients...
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State Senate passes long-sought bill to ease prescribing of non-narcotic drugs by advanced practice registered nurses
After years of lobby fights between doctors and advanced practice registered nurses, the state Senate has passed 36-1 a compromise version of legislation that would allow some APRNs to prescribe...
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U of L researchers develop simple cervical-cancer blood test that could be more accurate and cheaper than Pap smears
A simple blood test can tell whether a woman has cervical cancer and, if she does, “how far it’s spread,” writes Laura Ungar of The Courier-Journal, reporting on research findings...
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Poll in fall found more Kentuckians reporting health coverage through employers, fewer saying they’re on public insurance
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News More Kentuckians had health insurance through their employer last year than the year before, and fewer were on public insurance, according to a statewide...
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Haynes says Obamacare may drive down Ky.’s health ranking initially because so many uninsured have gone undiagnosed
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News Kentucky’s low health rankings may get lower before they go up, both because of the state’s expansion of Medicaid under federal health reform, the...
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Appalachian Kentucky newspapers improved their Obamacare coverage after rollout, but it remained heavily political
Appalachian Kentucky newspapers gave their readers limited information about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the two months before the Oct. 1 rollout of the law, and their...
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Governor’s focus on health deserves another round of applause, Friedell Committee for Health officer writes in op-ed piece
Gov. Steve Beshear’s focus on health in his State of the Commonwealth speech should be applauded, given the poor state of Kentucky’s health, an officer of the Friedell Committee for...