Category: HEALTH POLICY
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Cigarette smoking rates among U.S. adults are at a historic low, 14%, but one in five still use some type of tobacco-based product
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Cigarette smoking rates have hit their lowest level ever, but 47 million Americans still use some type of tobacco-based product, prompting government officials to...
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National Rural Health Day is Thursday, Nov. 15
Rural communities have unique health-care needs: accessibility, a lack of providers, the needs of an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, and larger percentages of people...
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Study shows e-cigs don’t keep teens from smoking cigs; health foundation calls for smoke-free schools; FDA to act on e-cigs
Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow chart — By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Teens who use electronic cigarettes end up smoking traditional cigarettes at about the same rate as teens...
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E-cigarette conference in Louisville Dec. 10 is full; remote viewing locations added in Bowling Green, Hazard, Paducah
The Coalition for a a Smoke-Free Tomorrowwill hold a half-day conference on electronic cigarettes Dec. 10 in Louisville, and offer remote viewing locations in Bowling Green, Hazard and Paducah. The conference,...
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Kentucky gets approval to expand and improve treatment for substance-use disorder among people on Medicaid
Kaiser Family Foundation map shows ranges of opioid addiction among Medicaid beneficiaries before the program was expanded in 2014. — Kentucky has gained more flexibility to provide substance-use-disorder (SUD) services for...
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FDA says it may limit sale of flavored e-cigarette products to vaping stores to combat ‘epidemic’ use of products by teens
Types of electronic cigarettes — As teen use of Juul products continues to soar, the head of the Food and Drug Administration says all options are on the table, including limiting sales of flavored...
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Open enrollment on Healthcare.gov is open until Dec. 15; subsidies make rates about the same as last year
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News It’s again time to sign up for federally subsidized health insurance through Healthcare.gov. Open enrollment for coverage in 2019 runs through Dec. 15. It’s worth taking...
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FDA approves painkiller 10 times stronger than fentanyl, over objections of UK anesthesiologist and other doctors
Dr. Raeford Brown — The Food and Drug Administration approved a powerful new painkiller Friday over the objections of a Kentucky doctor who co-chairs its advisory committee on such matters, and other...
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Agreement signed to help Kentuckians with severe mental illness transition out of institutional care to community housing
The state has reached an agreement with an independent agency that advocates for people with disabilities that should allow more people with severe mental illness to get out of institutional...
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Study predicts number of Kentuckians who drop off Medicaid will double if work and ‘community engagement’ rules are approved
WKYT-TV image — By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The federal-state Medicaid program provides health coverage to about 1.4 million Kentuckians, or about one in three. The exact number fluctuates,...