By Aneri PattaniKFF Health News Opioid settlement cash is not inherently political. It’s not the result of a law passed by Congress nor an edit to the state budget. It’s not taxpayer money. Rather, it’s coming from health-care companies that were sued for fueling the opioid crisis with prescription painkillers. But like most dollars…
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky (UK) took a monumental step towards enhancing health education and addressing health care challenges within the Commonwealth with a ceremonial groundbreaking on Friday for its new Health Education Building. Touted as the largest academic building in the university’s history, the facility aims to redefine health care education…
by Kentucky Health News Attorney General Daniel Cameron is among a large, bipartisan group of attorneys general suing Meta, the parent firm of social-media platforms Facebook and Instagram, for purposefully harming the mental health of youth in their states. The suit alleges that Meta knowingly designed and deployed addictive features that put Kentucky’s youngest residents at risk despite…
by Kelly Taulbee, Kentucky Lantern One in three Kentuckians are going through the Medicaid renewals process for the first time since they were paused in 2020. Thousands are going to be finding themselves in a unique position of needing to enroll in health care outside of the usual marketplace open enrollment dates. Thousands more…
by Kentucky Health News A sneaky, infectious, drug-resistant fungus called Candida auris has been found on five patients on one floor at the Albert B. Chandler Hospital at the University of Kentucky, UK announced Tuesday. “All cases have the fungus on their skin, but it is not causing an active infection and there are no active infections with Candida auris at UK…
By Melissa Patrick, Kentucky Health News In a session focused on challenges of getting the psychedelic drug ibogaine approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating addiction with help of the state’s opioid settlement funds, a cardiologist said it couldn’t be done in a reasonable time and the drug is unsafe. “My opinion is that ibogaine…
By Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern Two Kentucky legislators who have championed freestanding birth centers said Monday that they have agreed to concessions in their latest proposal, but the head of the state’s hospital association and two obstetrician-gynecologists testified that the changes are not enough to protect patients. Advocates for each side of the years-long debate spoke Monday before…
FRANKFORT — State and federal law prohibits tobacco sales to people under the age of 21, but student advocates say this isn’t enough. Two student advocates and an internal medicine doctor testified on the issue before the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations on Monday. Information provided to lawmakers claims 23.6%…
by Paul Oliva, The Lexington Times LEXINGTON, Ky. — A recent investigation into the indoor air quality at the Lexington Police Headquarters has raised alarming concerns, particularly on its 4th floor. The report, dated September 14, 2023, was conducted by Air Source Technology, Inc. and commissioned by the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government. It…
by Paul Oliva, The Lexington Times LEXINGTON, Ky.–Lexington’s Opioid Abatement Commission met Friday in Council Chamber for its first regular meeting. The Commission’s purpose is to recommend uses for Lexington’s share of the National Opioid Litigation Settlement. The meeting featured a presentation that included nine strategies from Johns Hopkins for spending funds and a…