Category: HEALTH POLICY
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FDA bans sale of most flavors in cartridge-based e-cigarettes; menthol flavor still allowed, against health advocates’ advice
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The Trump administration has announced a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes except for menthol and tobacco-flavored products for cartridge-based systems, like pods...
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New legal age of 21 to buy tobacco products surprises some; anti-smoking leaders say it won’t thwart teenagers’ use of e-cigarettes
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The minimum age to buy tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, is now 21. Legislation to raise the nationwide legal age from 18 passed Congress...
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Gov. Beshear rescinds Bevin’s Medicaid waiver plan but asks federal government to let Kentucky keep four parts of it
Beshear signs executive order on Medicaid. (Melissa Patrick photo) —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News As he promised in his campaign, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear rescinded defeated Republican predecessor Matt...
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Ky. legislative leaders talk favorably of taxing electronic cigarettes
By Al CrossKentucky Health NewsElectronic cigarettes, which escaped taxation in the General Assembly last year and were then labeled an epidemic among teenagers, are in line to get taxed when...
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McConnell and electronic-cigarette firms’ bill to raise legal age to buy tobacco and e-cigarettes to 21 awaits president’s signature
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Legislation to raise the nationwide legal age to buy tobacco produces, including electronic cigarettes, from 18 to 21 passed Congress as part of the...
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ACA open enrollment has been extended until 3 a.m. ET Wed., Dec. 18, but federal officials haven’t made a very big deal of it
Open enrollment for “Obamacare” health insurance has been extended until 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 18, because of extensive computer glitches that happened over the weekend. The original deadline...
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Kentucky had nation’s third largest increase in 2016-18 in percentage of children under 6 without health insurance
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Over the past two years, Kentucky saw the third largest increase in the nation for the percentage of children under 6 years of age...
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Northern Ky. Health Dept. declares hepatitis A outbreak over in 4 counties it serves; statewide, it may never be considered ‘over’
Top map shows the number of cases per county since the outbreak began in August 2017. Bottom map shows number of cases in November 2019. —– Dec. 16, 2019: Story...
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Four flu-related deaths have been reported in Kentucky; state health commissioner urges everyone to get vaccinated
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The Kentucky Department of Public Health has reported the first four influenza-related deaths of the 2019-2020 flu season, which runs through May. “We extend our condolences...
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Kentucky legislators have filed four bills targeting teen use of e-cigarettes; Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow is supporting two
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News As teen use of electronic cigarettes continues to surge, Kentucky lawmakers in both parties will be working to pass bills aimed at decreasing their...