Nonprofit grades hospitals on patient safety; the 52 ranked in Ky. improved slightly, but the state still ranks relatively low

By Traci Thomas Kentucky Health News A nonprofit group that rates hospitals released its patient-safety scores Monday, giving most Kentucky ...

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Friedell Committee hears focus should be on prevention programs, community strategies and community partnerships

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. – Seventy percent of the influence on our health comes from our own behaviors and the...

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State sues failed Kentucky Health Cooperative's former chief executive board and contractors, alleging mismanagement

By Melissa Patrick and Al Cross Kentucky Health News The former president and directors of the Kentucky Health Cooperative , created under f...

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Cost of employer-based health insurance grew more slowly after 2010 reform law, but not for single-person plans in Kentucky

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The growth in premiums and deductibles for employer-based health insurance has slowed since federal ...

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Medicaid participants can change their managed-care organization through Dec. 16; there are five to choose from

Kentuckians with Medicaid coverage can switch to a different managed-care organization though Dec. 16. Switching is voluntary and coverage w...

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Kentucky ranked No. 1 in the percentage of cancer deaths that were related to smoking in 2014

Kentucky has long ranked No. 1 in cancer deaths, and in deaths from lung cancer, so it seems only natural that it rank first in deaths from ...

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Feds give UK $19.8 million second-round grant to bring health research into communities in Kentucky and Central Appalachia

By Al Cross and Traci Thomas Kentucky Health News A four-year, $19.8 million research grant to the University of Kentucky will bring better...

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Health commissioner leaves political correctness at the door, talks about getting governor to back anti-smoking measures

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News FRANKFORT, Ky. - State health officials didn't shy away from saying that smoking was one of Kent...

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DEA investigators say officials purposely hampered attempts to slow rise of opioids, doing the bidding of drug manufacturers

Drug ­Enforcement Administration  investigators say attempts to staunch the rise of opioids were derailed by interference from higher ups, L...

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Kentucky behavioral health specialist says the state has been 'epicenter' of the nation's addiction epidemic for almost 20 years

Though the United States' addiction problem and overdose deaths has sparked national attention , the epidemic in Kentucky dates back to ...

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Kentuckians who qualify for tax-subsidized health plans will sign up on HealthCare.gov this year; open enrollment begins Nov. 1

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kentuckians who qualify for health plans subsidized by tax credits, called Qualified Health Plans, w...

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UK center promotes at-home test for colorectal cancer, reports on efforts to get young women vaccinated for cervical cancer

More people in Appalachian Kentucky die from colorectal cancer than in any other region of the state. A screening project of the Rural Cance...

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U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth says Bevin's Medicaid plan won't be approved, should be withdrawn; Bevin aide says call is political

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth Democratic U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth of Louisville called on Republican Gov. Matt Bevin to withdraw his proposal to resh...

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Cancer, and death from it, rose in rural Appalachia from 1969 to 2011; Appalachian Kentucky's cancer-death rate was 36% higher

Appalachian Regional Commission  service area From 1969 to 2011 the cancer death rate in rural Appalachia went from the nation's lowest ...

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Study: Ky. kids have more access to oral health care, but still have poor outcomes; 1/2 in Appalachia have untreated cavities

By Melissa Patrick and Traci Thomas Kentucky Health News The oral health of Kentucky's school children is getting worse, even though acc...

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Kentuckians can submit comments about Gov. Matt Bevin's Medicaid plan until federal officials render a final decision

The 30-day federal public comment period for Gov. Matt Bevin's new Medicaid plan ended Oct. 8, but the U.S. Department of Health and Hum...

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Pikeville Medical Center hires 3,000th employee

Pikeville Medical Center (Photo: sourcelync.net) Pikeville Medical Center  said it reached a milestone Monday when it welcomed its 3,000th e...

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Paducah Sun editor calls for higher cigarette tax in Kentucky

The executive editor of a West Kentucky newspaper known for its conservative editorials is taking a stand against cigarette taxes, but not i...

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90% of public comments opposed Bevin's Medicaid plan, but some tell feds that Ky. voted for him to get rid of Obamacare

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Nearly 1,750 Kentuckians submitted comments about Gov. Matt Bevin's plan for Medicaid during the...

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National Drug Take-Back Day is Oct. 22; Ky. has 194 prescription drop boxes and many State Police posts will participate

Kentuckians are encouraged to turn in any unused or expired prescription drugs Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of National...

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