Author: Melissa Patrick
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Bill passes to decrease smoking; one doesn’t; lawmakers set to pass resolution for feds to ditch plan to limit tobacco carcinogen
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – Smoke-free advocates would say that this legislative session’s record is 1-2. That’s because Kentucky lawmakers have passed one bill that will...
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Bill sent to Bevin would remove insurance-company barriers that keep Kentuckians from getting smoking-cessation treatments
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentuckians would have an easier time getting smoking-cessation treatments covered by insurance under a bill that is on its way to...
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Kentuckians on public insurance such as Medicaid used ERs more often after full implementation of the Affordable Care Act
Use of emergency rooms was expected to decrease after the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but it rose among people with public insurance such as Medicaid,...
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Bill to make all Ky. schools tobacco-free is likely dead for this session; only 62 of the state’s 173 school districts ban tobacco
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill that would ban tobacco use on school properties and at school events has all but died in the state...
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Ky. and most surrounding states had fewer companies on government health-insurance exchanges this year than last year
The number of health insurance companies offering subsidized coverage didn’t shrink just in Kentucky, but in most of adjoining states, according to a study done for the Foundation for a...
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State health officials urge spring-break travelers to use caution against the Zika virus
State officials are warning spring-break travelers to take precautions against the Zika virus if they are traveling to areas where the virus has been identified. Specifically, they are encouraging travelers...
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UK plans to develop its third regional medical school in Northern Kentucky; others are to be in Bowling Green and Morehead
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine plans to develop its third regional medical school in Northern Kentucky, in an effort to increase the overall number of physicians in the state. The...
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Senate medical-review panel bill passes out House with changes after two hours of debate; Senate says OK, sends it to Bevin
This story has been updated to reflect concurrence of the Senate on March 3. By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News A Senate bill that would establish review panels for lawsuits...
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Poll finds that most Kentucky adults have access to healthy foods, but most also don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables daily
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Most Kentucky adults don’t eat enough fruits or vegetables every day, even though most of them say they have easy access to them, according...
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Immunizations are a hot topic in Frankfort; comment on updated regulation ends Tuesday; shots-for-college bill looks dead
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News A bill to require all college freshmen in Kentucky to be immunized before starting classes is likely dead, but one that allows pharmacists to...