February 2020 – Kentucky Health News

Study: rural women with ovarian cancer more likely to be diagnosed at stage IV, but not because of distance to doctor

Rural women who have ovarian cancer are more likely to find out about it when it’s already at stage IV than women who live in metropolitan areas, according to a newly...

By Al Cross Published February 28, 2020 YOUR HEALTH

Bill to help people with addictions get medication-assisted treatments moves; advocates say insurers killed the last one

Kimi Banta, Rep. Kim Moser, Dr. Shawn Ryan —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill to help people with opioid and alcohol addictions to get...

By Al Cross Published February 28, 2020 HEALTH POLICY

If you’re worried about coronavirus, you should be more worried about the flu, and take the same precautions, including a flu shot

Food and Drug Administration photo illustration —– Worried about the novel coronavirus spreading in the United States? Take the same precautions that you would against influenza, which is twice as...

By Al Cross Published February 27, 2020 FEATURED, HEALTH POLICY, YOUR HEALTH

Bill would let health professionals refuse treatment that violates their conscience; critics say it would put discrimination into law

Sen. Stephen Meredith —– A bill to allow health-care professionals to refuse to provide treatment that violates their conscience is nearing a floor vote in the state Senate. Senate Bill...

By Al Cross Published February 27, 2020 HEALTH BUSINESS, HEALTH POLICY

House passes public-assistance bill with plan for temporary health coverage for people who earn too much to stay on Medicaid

House Speaker Pro Tem David Meade presents House Bill 1. (LRC photo) —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News A bill aimed at moving Kentuckians off public assistance includes several health-related...

By Al Cross Published February 24, 2020 HEALTH BUSINESS, HEALTH POLICY

Bill to stop ‘shenanigans’ of Medicaid drug middlemen moves unanimously to House; sponsor says bill is first of its kind in U.S.

Sen. Max Wise presents Senate Bill 50 Photo by LRC Public Information —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill to address payment issues between middlemen known...

By Al Cross Published February 24, 2020 HEALTH BUSINESS, HEALTH POLICY

16 more Ky. adults died from flu in the week ended Feb. 15, for a season total of 66; officials say best protection is still a flu shot

Kentucky Health News The number of new cases of influenza dropped slightly in Kentucky during the second week of February, but 16 more adults in the state were reported to...

By Al Cross Published February 24, 2020 YOUR HEALTH

Children need 14 doctor visits before age 6, but preschoolers are increasingly not covered by insurance, especially in Kentucky

Kentucky Health News In 2018, the number of Kentucky pre-schoolers without health insurance was about half again as large as the number had been in 2016, and that was one...

By Al Cross Published February 24, 2020 FEATURED, HEALTH POLICY, YOUR HEALTH

House passes medical-marijuana bill, 65-30, after specifying illnesses for its use; Senate passage remains much in doubt

Photo illustration from MedicalMarijuana.com —– Kentucky would be the 34th state to make marijuana legal for medicinal purposes, under a bill the state House passed Thursday by a vote of...

By Al Cross Published February 21, 2020 DRUGS, FEATURED, HEALTH POLICY

KET to air ‘Undiagnosed: The Diabetes Epidemic’ followed by a panel discussion about the disease on Monday, Feb. 24

Part of an infographic from a 2019 state report. —– Nearly half of Kentucky adults have diabetes or pre-diabetes — and many of them don’t know they have it. To...

By Al Cross Published February 18, 2020 HEALTH POLICY, YOUR HEALTH

Month: February 2020