Author: Melissa Patrick
-
As ads for electronic cigarettes increase, more teenagers are using the devices; Kentucky health officials notice trend
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Teenagers’ use of electronic cigarettes tripled between 2013 and 2014, surpassing the use of all tobacco products, and federal officials are blaming unrestricted advertisement...
-
Jan. 31 is last day to sign up for health insurance; CareSource says 1/3 of its new enrollees are from old Ky. Health Cooperative
Sunday, Jan. 31, is the last day to sign up for subsidized health insurance through Kynect, the state’s online insurance marketplace, or face a penalty when you file your tax...
-
There’s a big difference in hospitals, as various ranking systems show; op-ed analyzes the leading hospitals in Kentucky
Being a responsible health consumer requires some homework, especially when it comes to choosing a hospital, but if you wait until the emergency occurs it is likely too late to...
-
87 cases of whooping cough reported in Kentucky during the last five months of 2015; best prevention is vaccination
Health officials are reminding people to get vaccinated for whooping cough, formally called pertussis, noting that there were 87 cases reported in Kentucky between August and December last year, The Courier-Journal reports....
-
Bill requiring high-school students to learn CPR goes to Senate floor; House has passed similar legislation in previous sessions
UPDATE: SB33 passed the state House on consent March 28 and now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. UPDATE: SB33 passed the state Senate on Jan. 28 by...
-
Bevin gives much lower estimate for ending Kynect, says Medicaid expansion depends on agreement with federal officials
Gov. Matt Bevin (Photo via www.bizjournals.com) Gov. Matt Bevin said it will only cost the state “one to two million dollars at the most” to dismantle Kynect, the state’s online...
-
Unique clinic at Anderson County Health Department, started to help Medicaid patients, risks closing due to Medicaid’s slow pay
The Anderson County Health Department‘s walk-in clinic, the only one of its kind in the state and maybe the nation, might have to close its doors if it doesn’t resolve...
-
Kindred agrees to pay $125 million for Medicare fraud claims against subsidiaries it bought after most wrongdoing occurred
Louisville-based Kindred Healthcare Inc. has agreed to pay $125 million to settle federal allegations that it knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare for rehabilitation therapy, according to a U.S. Department...
-
Humana says claims from Obamacare plans will exceed premiums paid; still determining size of loss
Louisville-based Humana Inc. said it expects its medical claims will exceed the premiums collected on its Affordable Care Act plans in 2016, but hasn’t yet determined the full amount of...
-
Attorney General Andy Beshear says dismantling Kynect, which his father created as governor, would be ‘really bad policy’
Attorney General Andy Beshear Attorney General Andy Beshear, whose father former Gov. Steve Beshear implemented Kynect, the state’s online health insurance marketplace, opposes Gov. Matt Bevin’s decision to shut it...