Kentucky is No. 4 in smoking, down from No. 2, but at 17.4% of adults, experts say the state’s smoking rate is still way too high
By Melissa PatrickKentucky Health News Kentucky still has one of the nation’s highest adult smoking rates, but has fallen to fourth among the states, after many years of either...
Lottery system will determine who gets 48 licenses for retailers and 10 for processors of medical cannabis in 11 Kentucky regions
By Melissa PatrickKentucky Health News Gov. Andy Beshear gave an update on the medical cannabis licensing program Thursday, after signing this year’s medical cannabis bill into law the day...
Top senators, one of whom lost both parents to smoking, say no advocates spoke to them about increasing anti-tobacco spending
By Al CrossKentucky Health News Kentucky’s top two state senators said Tuesday that none of the advocates for more funding of tobacco prevention spoke to them about it during...
‘Momnibus’ bill passes on final day of legislative session after being attached to another bill to avoid floor fight on abortion
Rep. Kim Moser presents SB 74to the state House (Ky. LRC photo) By Melissa Patrick and Al CrossKentucky Health News On the last day of the 2024 legislative session,...
Bills to become law on vaping, pharmacy reform, vaccinations, drugs, at-home blood testing, coverage of cancer screening, more
Kentucky State Capitol (Photo via Wikipedia) By Melissa PatrickKentucky Health News In its 2024 session the Kentucky General Assembly has passed dozens of health-related bills that address a range...
Bills to become law on vaping, pharmacy reform, vaccinations, drugs, at-home blood testing, coverage of cancer screening, more
Kentucky State Capitol (Photo via Wikipedia) By Melissa PatrickKentucky Health News In its 2024 session the Kentucky General Assembly has passed dozens of health-related bills that address a range...
Despite waiting list, a shortage of nurses and plenty of money, governor and legislature don’t fund new building for KSU nursing
Kentucky State University’s nursing program has outgrown the Betty White Health Center, opened in 1971. Nursing classes are spread in buildings across campus. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Jamie Lucke)...
Raising Ky.’s health status has ‘a ways to go,’ hospital chief says; Chandler says people need to demand change in health policies
Ben Chandler, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, and Christopher Roty, president of Baptist Health Lexington, spoke at the April 4 Lexington Forum. (Photo by Melissa Patrick) By Melissa PatrickKentucky Health...
Legislature and Beshear pass law to protect independent pharmacies in Ky. from commercial pharmacy benefit managers
By Melissa PatrickKentucky Health News A bill to address an unfair playing field between commercial pharmacy-benefit managers and independent pharmacists has been signed into law and will take effect...
Republicans talk about making Obamacare better, not repealing it, so it is ‘becoming a politically untouchable part’ of the safety net
Washington Post graph from Kaiser Family Foundation polling data Kentucky Health News“A law once derided as ‘Obamacare’ and demonized as a big-government power grab is becoming a politically untouchable...