Category: YOUR HEALTH
-
Opinion: Toward a healthier Kentucky, with a smoke-free law
By the Friedell Committee for Health System Transformation It is no secret that Kentucky is among the unhealthiest states in our country. Kentucky is No. 7 in cardiovascular deaths, No....
-
‘Medicaid Dashboard’ gives county-by-county details on 375,000 who joined program, what screenings they got, what they found
The expansion of the federal-state Medicaid program under federal health reform marks the biggest change in Kentucky health care since Medicare began in the mid-1960s. Almost 400,000 people have joined...
-
Statewide smoking ban passes Kentucky’s Democratic House, but its chances don’t look good in the Republican Senate
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – A statewide smoking ban passed the Democrat-controlled state House Friday for the first time, but its chances appear grim in the Republican-controlled...
-
Highly anticipated report on first year of Medicaid expansion says Kentucky can afford it even with higher-than-expected enrollment
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky’s decision to expand Medicaid under federal health reform is a better deal than previously projected and will more than pay...
-
Thousands of Kentuckians face federal tax penalty for not having health insurance
“Thousands of Kentuckians might face a penalty this tax season for failing to sign up for health insurance during 2014,” Mary Meehan reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader. The state estimated...
-
Economic upturn boosts share of Kentuckians on employer-based health coverage; health reform boosts number on public plans
Half of Kentucky’s working-age adults now get health insurance through their employers, up from 37 percent two years ago, reversing a downward trend that began with the Great Recession. Meanwhile,...
-
Advocates of smoking ban, including victims of secondhand smoke, rally at Capitol
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – Over 500 Smoke-Free Kentucky advocates spent Wednesday, Feb. 11, asking their lawmakers to pass a statewide smoking ban, wrapping up their day...
-
Sponsor of local opt-out amendment says smoking-ban bill needs it to pass; sponsor and House leaders don’t care for it
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News UPDATE: The House didn’t vote on this amendment, but Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, says it or something like it would give the bill a...
-
With 55 votes needed instead of the usual 51, it just got harder to pass a smoke-free workplace law in the House
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – A bill to ban smoking in public places and places of employment will require the commitment of a supermajority to get...
-
At least 14 counties had vaccination rates in 2011-12 below level experts say is needed to protect kindergartners from measles
As concern about the spread of measles from lack of vaccination grows, many Kentucky counties probably have vaccination rates below the minimum that experts say is needed to create “herd...