Author: Melissa Patrick
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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...
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Hope is high for a House floor vote and passage of a statewide smoking ban, but the Senate remains doubtful
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill to ban smoking in public places and places of employment is headed to the House floor yet again, and...
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Senate OKs bill for review panels in medical lawsuits after lively debate between doctors, lawyers, others
This story, which was published Thursday morning, has been updated with action in the full Senate. By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Senate has approved a...
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Most rural hospitals in Kentucky are struggling financially and looking for ways to survive
Most rural hospitals in Kentucky are loosing money, putting them at risk of closing if they don’t find another way to do business, Miranda Combs reports for Lexington’s WKYT-TV. More than 65 percent...
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Appalachians Together Restoring the Eating Environment to help Eastern Kentucky communities develop local, healthy foods
A new project searches for ways to increase access to healthy foods in Eastern Kentucky and looks to communities to find these solutions. Appalachians Together Restoring the Eating Environment, or...
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Clinton, Beshear, Humana chief and others discuss Medicaid expansion, other changes in health systems, and chronic illness
By Melissa Patrick and Al Cross Kentucky Health News The economic advantages from expanding Medicaid under federal health reform should outweigh any ideology that is holding states back from participating...