Author: Melissa Patrick
-
Study says if Ky. cut its smoking rate to the national average, it could save $1.7 billion in health-care costs the very next year
Illustration from University of California-San Francisco By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News If Kentucky could cut its smoking rate to the national average, it would save an estimated $1.7 billion...
-
Medicaid stakeholders OK with healthy behavior incentives, oppose penalizing recipients who don’t take part in cost sharing
By Melissa Patrick and Al Cross Kentucky Health News Groups of people concerned about changes in Kentucky’s Medicaid program are open to the state offering incentives for healthy behaviors, but...
-
Woman stuck by needle faces up to one year of testing for HIV and hepatitis; dirty needles becoming common in public places
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News A Monroe County woman was stuck by an insulin needle found in a pair of sweatpants she purchased at the Walmart in Tompkinsville and...
-
Justice secretary, drug-policy chief and ex-health boss back needle exchanges but ‘political rhetoric’ can trump science
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News CORBIN, Ky. – Local officials and legislators continue to debate and sometimes reject needle exchanges, but two state officials and a former state health...
-
Nine myths about opioid drug abuse
Do you think it’s a good idea to save your leftover pain pills to have “just in case” you might need one, or that heroin is primarily an inner-city problem?...
-
Conference on cancer-causing HPV in Lexington June 21
The Kentucky Rural Health Association is sponsoring a summit on the human papilloma virus, “HPV – You ARE the Key!” June 21 at the Embassy Suites in Lexington. The HPV...
-
CDC finds health problems are common at public pools; state requires local health departments to inspect each one twice a year
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Thousands of public pools, hot tubs and water playgrounds are forced to close every year for serious health and safety violations, according to a...
-
At forum on opioid abuse in Corbin, people say they need more treatment services, community education and coalitions
Image from Lauren Osborne, WYMT-TV Mountain News By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News CORBIN, Ky. – After a day of learning and talking about opioid prevention, treatment and mobilization, people at a...
-
Air ambulances save lives in rural Kentucky, but are costly; Junction City buys Air Evac memberships for everyone in town
Medical helicopters are especially important to rural Kentucky because they get people to the medical care they need quickly, but this service comes at a cost that many can’t afford,...
-
Ky. has plan to keep Zika virus out of state, but needs your help; travelers to Zika-affected areas need to take precautions
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News State officials launched a mosquito prevention campaign May 9 at the Kentucky State University Research Farm near Frankfort as part of the state’s efforts...