Category: HEALTH POLICY
-
Two Kentucky hospitals, in Lexington and Prestonsburg, each lose $2.4 million in very different lawsuits over ‘patient dumping’
Two Kentucky hospitals have recently lost lawsuits that charged them with “patient dumping,” generally defined as discharging patients who are uninsured or unable to pay – or refusing to admit...
-
CDC’s Ky. risk map is largely green, but 11 counties are still at high risk and the state’s infection rate ranks first in the nation
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The number of Kentucky counties at high risk of Covid-19 was cut in half last week, with only two counties moving into a higher...
-
By far, most Kentucky counties don’t have enough primary-care physicians
Most of Kentucky’s rural counties and some of its metropolitan areas have too few primary-care doctors and they are leaving faster than they can be replaced, Sarah Ladd reports for the Louisville Courier...
-
With the important exceptions of vaping and marijuana, substance abuse among U.S. teenagers has been going down
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Except for cannabis use and vaping, substance use among American teens is going down, according to a recent study. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Substance...
-
Abortion-rights supporters report raising more funds than backers of anti-abortion ballot measure; Lexington mayor opposes it; Beshear reflects poll
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News Abortion is on Kentucky’s ballot. The state’s portal for requesting an absentee ballot opened Saturday, Sept. 24, and the ballot will have this question:...
-
More than 50,000 in Medicare prescription program had a drug overdose last year; up 15%, about same as overall increase in Ky.
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News At least 50,391 Americans in Medicare Part D, which pays for prescription drugs, had an overdose from prescription opioids, illicit opioids, or both during 2021,...
-
Beshears get new Covid-19 booster shots designed to protect against recent variants of the coronavirus
The governor gets a shot as the first lady watches. (State photo) —– Gov. Andy Beshear and his wife, Britainy Beshear, got the newly updated bivalent Covid-19 booster vaccine Wednesday...
-
Doctors back booster shots for recent Covid-19 variants, saying vaccines are especially needed now that cooler weather is here
iStock/Getty Images Plus photo illustration via Kaiser Health News —– By Al Cross Kentucky Health News Kentucky experts largely dismissed concerns about speedy approval of the new coronavirus vaccines on...
-
Cutting barriers to tobacco-quitting treatment helped, but not enough; Ky. has wide differences among regions, and not enough money
Photo: healthyplace.com —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Since Kentucky passed a law in 2017 that reduced barriers to tobacco treatment and counseling, Kentucky Medicaid providers have diagnosed more...
-
UK study to test effectiveness of kiosk with harm-reduction goods as way to increase access and fight the stigma felt by drug users
An example of a harm reduction vending machine in Cincinnati (Photo from Kiosk Marketplace) —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News To fight feelings of stigma that discourage intravenous drug...