Community health workers help Kentuckians deal with the multitude of obstacles between them and better health

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News BEATTYVILLE, Ky. – Fannie Callahan, a 62-year-old woman from Lee County, worked at the local nursing...

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Medicare cuts 11 Ky. hospitals for patient-safety issues; repeaters in Louisville, Danville, Hopkinsville, Lexington, Paducah, Florence

The federal government is penalizing 11 Kentucky hospitals for falling short on patient safety in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, two m...

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Substance-use treatment under Medicaid jumps, following expansion of program and increase in abuse of painkillers

Kentucky's expanded Medicaid program covered approximately 11,000 substance-use treatment services in the second quarter of 2016, a huge...

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Kentucky likely to get measures to restrict malpractice lawsuits

The coming Republican control of state government makes it likely that doctors and other health-care providers will get from the General Ass...

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Anecdotal reports suggest that injured teen athletes who are prescribed opioids are getting addicted, but research is conflicted

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Three high-school athletes, two playing football and one a swimmer, recently told NBC News  how they...

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1/3 of long-term prescription opioid users say they're addicted

One-third of long-term opioid users in the U.S. report being addicted or dependent on the painkillers, and nearly all of the long-term users...

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Report again ranks Kentucky 49th in well-being for seniors

Kentucky held onto its 49th spot for the seventh year in a row in a new ranking of seniors' well-being, with West Virginia following clo...

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Study finds a community awareness campaign increased uptake of low-dose CT scan, which can detect lung cancer early

A community awareness campaign in Eastern Kentucky about a low-dose CT scan that detects lung cancer early has increased uptake of the proce...

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Ky. had biggest drop in uninsured low-income people, and in percentage of adults who passed up care because of cost

Kentucky had the largest drop in low-income, working-age people without health insurance, and the biggest decline in adults who passed up me...

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Fewer teens are using drugs and alcohol than their counterparts did in the 1990s, nationwide and also in Kentucky

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News A new national study shows teen drug and alcohol use are at their lowest rates since the 1990s, a tr...

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Surgeon general calls youth e-cigarette use a public health threat

image Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids The Office of the U.S. Surgeon General issued its first report on electronic cigarettes Dec. 8, callin...

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Be careful in cold weather, which makes heart attacks, strokes and blood clots more likely; also, watch out for holiday stress

Heart attacks are 30 percent more likely during winter because of the weather, but there are precautions you can take to reduce your risk. “...

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UK medical school at Bowling Green, similar to deal with Ashland and Morehead hospitals, is aimed at addressing doctor shortage

The Medical Center and Western Kentucky University already cooperate on other medical-education programs. Officials and civic leaders in Sou...

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Ky. again No.1 in adult smoking: 25.9 percent, just ahead of W.Va.

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Once again, Kentucky ranks first for its adult smoking rates, barely inching ahead of West Virginia ...

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Many Kentuckians on Obamacare have higher deductibles, fewer options and fewer providers; signup deadline extended to Dec. 19

Kentuckians who are signing up for health insurance through the federal exchange are not only facing higher prices and fewer plan options, t...

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Rep. Tom Burch, ousted as House Health and Welfare chair by Republican takeover, gives the gavel to Rep. Addia Wuchner

Rep. Tom Burch By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky.   –  After 30 years as chair of the House Health and Welfare Committee...

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Surgeon UK ousted has his say in Lexington TV report

A renowned surgeon barred from practicing or teaching at the University of Kentucky for abusive behavior said in a television interview thi...

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KentuckyOne Health will no longer manage U of L hospital; executive that helped do the deal gets $1.5 million to go away

The University of Louisville and KentuckyOne Health are ending the joint operating agreement under which KentuckyOne has managed the Unive...

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