Author: Melissa Patrick
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Study finds Medicaid managed care works, even with expansion; providers still struggle with it, prompting legislation
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News After an additional 400,000 Kentuckians signed up for Medicaid under health reform in 2014, it wasn’t certain that the Medicaid managed-care system started in...
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Study of oral health in Ky. shows progress and challenges, reminds us of connections between oral health and overall health
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News More Kentuckians than ever have access to dental care because of Medicaid eligibility for dental insurance, and the state has made some gains in...
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Kynectors tell why they’re important to keeping Kentuckians signed up for coverage; Stivers says they’re making assumptions
L-R: Kynectors Kathy Oller, Cara Stewart, Mike Wynn, Laken Daniels, Jennifer Gates, Miranda Brown, Ashley Shoemaker By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kynectors, who help Kentuckians sign up for health coverage...
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Health-committee leaders say policy decisions being driven by focus on pensions, with no consideration of tax reform for revenue
L-R: State Reps. Joni Jenkins, Rep. Tom Burch,Sens. Ralph Alvarado, Sen. Julie Raque Adams By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Four legislators told a group of health advocates Feb. 22 that...
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After eight suicides in 2015, Carter County officials host a suicide-prevention forum; other communities are urged to do likewise
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kentucky is one of the top 20 states for suicide, with nearly 700 Kentuckians taking their own lives each year, and 109 of the...
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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...