Category: HEALTH POLICY
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Kentucky has a high premature birth rate, but two programs are reducing it; one stresses home visitations; the other uses data analysis
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News One in nine Kentucky babies are born prematurely, one of the nation’s highest rates – so high that the March of Dimes gave the state a...
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Beshear sues 9th opioid maker, says it makes him the most aggressive attorney general, based on number of suits
Filing his ninth lawsuit against a maker of drugs that have contributed to the opioid epidemic, Attorney General Andy Beshear said “This lawsuit makes Kentucky the most aggressive state in...
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Federal officials re-approve state’s plan for changes in Medicaid; gradual rollout could start April 1, but more litigation looks likely
Gov. Matt Bevin welcomed President Trump to Lexington on Oct. 13. (Photo by James Crisp for the Courier Journal) — By Al Cross Kentucky Health News Federal health officials have again...
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Ky. has 78 confirmed flu cases and 2 deaths from it this season; there’s no cure, so officials advise shots for all over 6 months old
Kentucky is one of three states under an influenza threat defined as “regional,” with confirmed cases in 11 of the state’s 17 regions. During the 2018-19 flu season, Kentucky has...
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FDA cracks down on e-cigs, noting use by youth more than doubled in a year, and proposes to ban menthol in cigarettes
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed Thursday to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes and cigars, and restrict the sales of some flavored electronic-cigarette liquids, some flavored cigars...
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State Supreme Court strikes down medical review panels for suits against health-care providers; backers eye constitutional change
Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd (Courier Journal photo by David Lutman — Filtering medical-malpractice lawsuits through panels of health-care professionals is unconstitutional, a unanimous Supreme Court of Kentucky ruled Thursday....
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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,...