Author: Melissa Patrick
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Poll illustrates how having insurance and access to a health care provider doesn’t mean you can afford the care
Just because a person has appropriate access to a health care provider doesn’t mean they can afford to pay for their services, according to the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll....
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Statewide smoking ban passes Kentucky’s Democratic House, but its chances don’t look good in the Republican Senate
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – A statewide smoking ban passed the Democrat-controlled state House Friday for the first time, but its chances appear grim in the Republican-controlled...
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Highly anticipated report on first year of Medicaid expansion says Kentucky can afford it even with higher-than-expected enrollment
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky’s decision to expand Medicaid under federal health reform is a better deal than previously projected and will more than pay...
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Advocates of smoking ban, including victims of secondhand smoke, rally at Capitol
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – Over 500 Smoke-Free Kentucky advocates spent Wednesday, Feb. 11, asking their lawmakers to pass a statewide smoking ban, wrapping up their day...
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Sponsor of local opt-out amendment says smoking-ban bill needs it to pass; sponsor and House leaders don’t care for it
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News UPDATE: The House didn’t vote on this amendment, but Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, says it or something like it would give the bill a...
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With 55 votes needed instead of the usual 51, it just got harder to pass a smoke-free workplace law in the House
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – A bill to ban smoking in public places and places of employment will require the commitment of a supermajority to get...
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Ten-county Lake Cumberland District Health Department is the latest to ask schools to foot more of the bill for school nurses
The Lake Cumberland District Health Department told school districts in its 10-county area in December that it would no longer be able to pay for nurses for each school, setting...
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Medicare to pay for CT scans of people at high risk of lung cancer
Medicare will now pay for low-dose CT scans for people at high risk of getting lung cancer, a change welcomed by officials in Kentucky, which leads the nation in lung...
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Anderson schools’ lunch profit is down nearly 10 percent; officials blame new federal nutrition standards; students object to food
Anderson County school officials say new federal nutrition standards are costing them money and hurting poor students because the students don’t like how the food tastes are opting out of...
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Panel OKs new medical-order form that would clearly define a person’s end-of-life wishes on nutrition, hydration, medication
A bill to create a medical order form that details a person’s wishes for end-of-life care passed the Senate Health and Welfare Committee Feb. 4 and seems headed for passage...