Teen birth rates are declining faster in urban counties than rural ones, nationally and in Kentucky
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kentucky’s teen birth rates are dropping faster in its urban counties than in its…
Kentucky Health News
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Kentucky’s Yarmuth named top democrat on House Budget Committee, will influence Obamacare debate
Rep. John Yarmuth of Louisville has been named ranking minority member on the House Budget Committee, a panel that will…
Report says hospital charity care and care to uninsured are down 77 percent since reform
An ongoing report of federal health reform’s effect on Kentucky says hospitals have significantly less charity care and care to…
Less than one-third of Kentucky schools have comprehensive tobacco-free policies, study shows
Though an overwhelming majority of Kentucky adults say they want schools to be tobacco-free, fewer than half of the state’s…
Survey of low-income Kyians, Arkansans, Texans suggests Medicaid expansion making them healthier
A survey of people in Kentucky and other states suggests that the 2014 expansion of the Medicaid program under federal…
Feds say there’s no proof flossing improves oral health; dentists say it’s low risk, low cost, so do it
Flossing might help you have better oral health. But there’s no proof of it, despite decades of recommendations by dental…
Kentucky leads the nation in cancers caused by a virus that HPV vaccinations can prevent
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kentucky has the highest overall rate of cancers associated with the human papillomavirus, and…
Needle exchange programs becoming more wide-spread in KY; HIV, hepatitis outbreaks slow
From Kentucky Health News Needle exchanges may be difficult for some people to accept, but they are better than outbreaks…
Work-oriented requirements in Medicaid plan could hit a snag; feds haven’t approved similar proposals
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Gov. Matt Bevin’s plan for Medicaid might not be approved by the Centers for…
Reaction to Bevin’s plan to change Medicaid mixed; critics say it creates barriers to health care
By Melissa Patrick and Al Cross Kentucky Health News Reactions to Gov. Matt Bevin’s plan to change Medicaid were predictably…
Just lowering smoking rate to national average could save Kentucky $1.7 billion in health care costs
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News If Kentucky could cut its smoking rate to the national average, it would save…
Political climate in Frankfort means smoke-free advocates should focus on local bans
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News More Kentucky localities are likely to see efforts for smoking bans, as a statewide…
State, national health officials say potential exists for Kentucky to have Zika virus outbreak
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News While all 388 Zika virus cases confirmed in the continental U.S., including six in…
One-stop shop, Benefind, isn’t; causes confusion, loss of benefits for thousands of Kentuckians
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News On Feb. 29, Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration launched a new one-stop-shopping website for state…
More Kentucky patients are recuperating in local, rural hospitals after surgery in an urban hospital
Rural residents are increasingly being transferred out of big urban hospitals to recuperate in rural hospitals, many of which are…
Poll: Large majority of Kentuckians want schools to be tobacco free, but less than a third comply
An overwhelming majority of Kentucky adults, 85 percent, want schools to be tobacco-free, according to the latest Kentucky Health Issues…
Hypodermic needle disposal education measure picks up amendment, surprising sponsor Denham
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News A House bill to educate the public about how to safely dispose of hypodermic…
Kentucky leads the nation in colon cancer rates, but it’s 90 percent preventable through screening
All too often Kentuckians don’t get screened for colon cancer because of fear, embarrassment, lack of access and cost concerns,…
More in state say they know someone hurt by use of heroin, especially in Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky is the hotbed of heroin addiction in Kentucky, but use of the narcotic appears to be rising elsewhere…
Kentucky still in bottom of national health ranking but is among states showing greatest improvements
By Melissa Patrick Special to KyForward Kentucky remains in the bottom fourth of a states’ health ranking released Dec. 8,…
Poll: Kentuckians want next governor, legislature to work on reducing health costs, improving health
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Reducing the costs of health care and improving the state’s health are two of…
High school athletes using more smokeless tobacco, though overall tobacco use has among teens is down
Athletes drive a rise in high schoolers’ use of smokeless tobacco High-school athletes are using more smokeless tobacco, even though…