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House committee strongly endorses medical marijuana, but time and the Senate stand in the way, in a session about to end
Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville (LRC Public Information photo) — With a resounding 16-1 vote, a House committee approved a bill Wednesday to legalize medical marijuana in Kentucky, but it seems unlikely...
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Sponsor of bill to ban tobacco use at all public schools and events files last-ditch amendment to give districts 3 years to opt out of it
Rep. Kim Moser — This is an updated version of a story that was first published Saturday, March 2. By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — The sponsor...
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Tobacco-free-school bill on life support; move afoot to make 21 legal age for e-cigs; some legislators want just one tobacco bill
Health advocates rallied at the state Capitol Feb. 28 to ask legislators to bring the tobacco-free school bill up for a vote, saying it has the votes to pass. (Photos...
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Guthrie tries to preserve funding for Medicaid program that gets beneficiaries out of facilities and into community-based support
Brett Guthrie (Ft. Collins Coloradoan photo) — U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie is working to find money to save a program aimed at moving Medicaid beneficiaries, mainly those with disabilities, out of...
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Health providers and advocates oppose Medicaid co-payment, say it creates barrier to care and administrative burden
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Health advocates at a regulatory meeting about the state’s new Medicaid co-payment requirements said the new rule is riddled with problems, all of which they anticipated....
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Bill to raise legal age to buy tobacco products to 21 fails on 4-6 committee vote; bill’s effectiveness questioned, called ‘PR move’
Sen. Steve Meredith, middle, with Altria Vice President David Fernandez, right, and Juul Labs lobbyist Jennifer Cunningham on his bill to raise the legal age for buying tobacco products. (Photo: Adam Beam, The Associated Press)...
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Report on Medicaid pharmacy managers confirms they make a profit at the expense of pharmacies; calls for new payment model
Sen. Max Wise has been outspoken in his criticism of pharmacy benefit managers. A “long-awaited state report” on how pharmacy benefit managers are paid seems to confirm the suspicion that...
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Apply by March 1 for expenses-paid rural-health fellowship to attend Association of Health Care Journalists conference
The Association of Health Care Journalists is offering fellowships to attend its May 2-5 conference in Baltimore, including one for reporters and editors working in rural towns and counties or who work for...
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Policy can often improve a state’s health more than healthcare; report offers 13 policies known to work, Ky only does 6
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Improving a state’s health outcomes and lowering healthcare costs often has less to do with health care and more to do with implementing a...
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Lobbyists create tracking tables that make it easier to keep up with bills; legislature also offers free ‘Bill Watch’ service
As the 2019 General Assembly moves into the second half of its session, it can be easy to lose track of the many health-related bills, but a contract lobbying group...