A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Studies show Paxlovid, a medication proven effective in the treatment of COVID-19, is being underutilized

By Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels University of Kentucky A safe and effective medication designed to prevent mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infections from becoming more dangerous has been available for almost two years. But recent studies have shown many patients eligible for the drug – Paxlovid – haven’t been prescribed it. In a clinical trial, the orally taken medication reduced the risk of hospitalization...

St. E. hitting home run with Reds Eric Davis, Elly De La Cruz to champion proactive health practices

St. Elizabeth Healthcare has announced a new collaboration with Cincinnati Reds infielder Elly De La Cruz, aimed at championing proactive health practices within our community. Through this partnership, St. Elizabeth will work with De La Cruz to utilize his platforms to highlight the importance of regular health check-ups, screenings and continuous care. Elly De La Cruz “We are thrilled to unite...

Health insurers again win lobbying battle with doctors, hospitals over ‘prior authorization’ of treatments

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News A bill to exempt health-care providers who have 90% or more of their claims approved from health-insurance companies’ requirements for prior authorization of certain treatments has failed again. “Unfortunately House Bill 317 looks like it’s dead,” said its sponsor, state Rep. Kim Moser. “We tried in good faith to work out a compromise...

St. Elizabeth’s Garren Colvin to speak at Covington Business Council’s monthly luncheon

Garren Colvin, president and CEO of St. Elizabeth Healthcare, has been leading Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati to be a healthier region as a part of St. Elizabeth Healthcare for more than 40 years. On April 18, he will be the guest speaker at the Covington Business Council’s monthly luncheon on “Investing in the Health of the Business Community.” A native of Ludlow, Colvin first...

Criminal immunity for KY medical providers who make mistakes wins unanimous legislative support

By Sarah Ladd Kentucky Lantern A bill giving Kentucky’s health care providers criminal immunity for medical mistakes — which one lawmaker thinks will enshrine protections for in vitro fertilization by default — is on its way to Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk. House Bill 159, which would decriminalize medical mistakes made by health care providers, passed the House in February unanimously. On Friday...

UC psychiatrist explains the links between toxic stress and poor health − and how to get help

By Lawson R. Wulsin University of Cincinnati COVID-19 taught most people that the line between tolerable and toxic stress – defined as persistent demands that lead to disease – varies widely. But some people will age faster and die younger from toxic stressors than others. So how much stress is too much, and what can you do about it? Toxic stress increases the risks for obesity, diabetes, depression...

St. E. Healthy Headlines: How to talk to healthcare provider about something embarrassing? Some tips

Have you ever been so mortified by a medical concern you felt too uncomfortable to discuss it with your healthcare provider? You’re not alone. It’s an all-too-common occurrence, but when it comes to provider visits, you can prioritize your health by being an open book. How Do I See a Provider About Something Embarrassing? An itchy backside, urinary incontinence or hemorrhoids, excessive or...

State’s certificate of need repeal dies on bipartisan vote in House committee; better solutions needed

By Sarah Ladd Kentucky Lantern A bill that opponents said would effectively repeal Kentucky’s certificate of need law failed in a bipartisan vote of the House Health Services Committee Thursday. House Bill 204 would have blocked the ability of a dominant provider to sue a certificate of need (CON) applicant during the process. It failed by a 13-3 vote with two lawmakers passing. Rep.Marianne Proctor,...

Patients, caregivers invited to provide perspectives as part of new University of Kentucky PEER Program

By Dr. Gia Mudd-Martin University of Kentucky If you have experience as a patient caregiver, or community member with significant experience with a health condition, your perspectives could help ensure that health research is designed to address the problems that you deal with every day. The University of Kentucky’s new Participant Engagement for Equitable Research (PEER) Program will build a network...

Reproductive health report shows medication abortion rates grew 10% over the last few years

By Elisha Brown Kentucky Lantern Researchers found that 63% of all abortions provided in the U.S. last year were medication abortions. There were an estimated 1,026,690 abortions — the most in over a decade — performed in the formal health care system in 2023, according to a report released Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research organization. The data provides a quantitative...

ER visits, hospitalizations for respiratory disease decline in the state, most are flu-related

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kentucky’s influenza levels remain elevated, but are declining, and hospitalizations for overall respiratory illness are moderate and declining, according to the state Department for Public Health. In the week ended March 9, emergency-department visits for the three main respiratory diseases showed a 16% drop in visits for COVID-19, flu and RSV, to 2,734....

Far from over, but Senate budget restores cuts made to Medicaid by House; now goes back to House

By Deborah Yetter Kentucky Lantern The state Senate has largely eliminated cuts to Medicaid that were proposed in the House budget. A top state official had warned the House plan would create a hole next year in the federal-state health plan that covers 1.5 million low-income Kentuckians, a third of the state’s population. “We are pleased that the Senate’s proposed budget restores funding...

Tri-State Running group training for Flying Pig half-marathon — and in it for fun, fitness, and exercise

By Andy Furman NKyTribune reporter Ron Charles says he does it for the exercise. Chad Davison started doing it to lose weight, and just feel better. But they’re both dedicated to it – along with about a group of 30-or-more that meet every Thursday evening and Saturday morning. It’s running. And the group, headed by Davidson, is training for the half-marathon – part of the Flying Pig Marathon...

More Americans opt out of COVID-19 vaccinations; survey show choice can be based on political views

Kentucky Health News More Americans are opting out of COVID-19 vaccinations; survey shows the choice can be based on political views It has been four years since the U.S. rolled out lockdowns and mask mandates to slow the spread of COVID-19. Many Americans, both Republican and Democrat, received the country’s first COVID-19 vaccine in fairly equal numbers. However, after that initial jump-off...

‘FindHelpNowKY’ website helps Kyians find life-saving drug used to reverse opioid overdose

Gov. Andy Beshear announced the state’s FindHelpNowKy.org website also helps Kentuckians find places to obtain the life-saving drug naloxone, which is used to reverse opioid overdose. The website, which has been used over 240,000 times to help Kentuckians find addiction treatment facilities since its inception in 2018, now also includes a recovery housing locator, mental health treatment facilities...