Author: Melissa Patrick
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Kynectors tell The Paducah Sun that they have played a critical role in helping Kentuckians sign up for health coverage
In the midst of the increasingly politicized debate about Gov. Matt Bevin’s plan to dismantle Kynect, the state’s health insurance exchange, “Kynectors,” whose job is to help Kentuckians sign up...
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Shelby County reporter tells story of what the heroin epidemic looks like in her county; it’s a problem in most of Kentucky
Submissions of samples with heroin have steadily increased since 2010 in the Kentucky State Police laboratory, going from 451 submissions in 2010 to 3,691 in 2015. Heroin ranks only behind...
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UK HealthCare’s nursing program regains ‘magnet’ status
The University of Kentucky medical center has regained magnet status, which is the highest institutional honor for nursing care, after four years without it, according to a UK news release. The honor comes...
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Grant is eighth county to approve needle exchange; op-ed calls for N. Ky. to take a vote; and Louisville opens its third site
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Grant County is the eighth county in the state to approve a needle-exchange program, nearly 11 months after the legislature paved the way to...
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Three Kentucky farmers praise Kynect and Medicaid expansion
Ben Abell, Carolyn Gahn and Rae Barr Three Kentucky farmers praised Medicaid expansion and Kynect, the state health-insurance exchange, at a news conference Feb. 16, saying the programs have helped them to...
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Lifting of ban on federal funding for needle-exchange programs has the potential to help Kentucky fight disease, but not yet
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky’s top Republicans in Congress, played a key role in lifting a longstanding ban...
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Bill to make 21 legal age to buy tobacco products moves; one of several anti-tobacco bills from Rep. David Watkins, retired doctor
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News A bill to raise the legal age to 21 to buy any tobacco or vaping products in Kentucky was approved Feb. 11 by the...
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Bevin names hospital association executive Stephen P. Miller to be Kentucky’s new Medicaid commissioner
Stephen P. Miller image from hfmaky.org Gov. Matt Bevin has appointed Stephen P. Miller, a hospital industry executive, as the state’s new Medicaid commissioner “As we work to redesign the...
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‘Go Red for Women’ events advise them to know heart-disease symptoms, their numbers, family history; and adjust lifestyle
Dozens of supporters showed up at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital Feb. 5 to celebrate the American Heart Association‘s “Go Red for Women” day and learned how heart disease affects women differently than...
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State House, which passed smoking ban last year, may wait until after March 8 special elections to act on this year’s version
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The politics of an election year could create obstacles for the recently filed bill to enact a statewide smoking ban. House Speaker Greg Stumbo...