Whipsawed by the system, dozens of independent pharmacies closed in Kentucky last year, and more are expected to follow suit

“No one can withstand this onslaught,” independent pharmacist Rosemary Smith of Beattyville told the Lexington Herald-Leader of the factors causing stores like hers to close. (H-L photo by Silas Walker) Kentucky Health News In the past year, at least 67 independent pharmacies have closed in Kentucky, and...

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FDA hasn't OKd ketamine for mental health, so treatments vary widely, creating a new 'wild West' and generating big markups

From KFF: We want to hear about your experiences and, with your permission, may incorporate your story into our coverage. Please tell us what it has been like for you as you have sought and received care, including the good and the bad, the obstacles and the successes. To share your story, click here.  By Dawn Megli KFF...

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House has passed Guthrie's bills to increase health-care price transparency, allow inmates to file for Medicaid before release

U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie (BG Daily News photo by Jack Dobbs) Kentucky Health News Second District U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie of Bowling Green told his hometown newspaper that the House has passed his bills to increase transparency in medical costs and allow inmates to pre-file for Medicaid benefits before they are released. The...

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Up to 75% of people say they've hidden illnesses, raising risks

Newswise graphic Kentucky Health News A startling number of people conceal an infectious illness to avoid missing work, travel, or social events, the University of Michigan says in reporting on research conducted there. The findings were published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological...

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Top floor of UK hospital tower opening, completing its occupancy

The tower of the Chandler hospital (UK photo) By Allison Perry University of Kentucky Beginning next week, the medical and cardiovascular intensive-care units inside the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital have a new home: the 12th floor of Pavilion A, the final floor of the hospital's tower to be completed...

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Seasonal respiratory illness in Kentucky has declined for three weeks, but the numbers are still considered elevated

Ky. Dept. for Public Health graphs, adapted by Kentucky Health News By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Emergency-department visits and hospital admissions for respiratory disease in Kentucky have dropped for three weeks in a row, but the Kentucky Department for Public Health still considers the rate of...

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You can test your home for invisible radon gas, leading cause of lung cancer among never-smokers; Ky. has many hotspots

By Stacy Stanifer University of Kentucky January is National Radon Action Month, making it a great time to prioritize the health of those in your household by testing for the presence of radon gas. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and the leading cause of lung cancer among never-smokers. Radon...

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Ky. Center for Smoke-free Policy seeks nominations by March 15 for smoke-free advocates to be honored at next conference

The Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy is accepting nominations for local smoke-free advocates who deserve to be recognized for their dedication to improving smoke-free policy and secondhand smoke education in Kentucky. Self-nominations are welcome.  The winners will be honored at the 2024 Kentucky Tobacco Control...

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Bill filed in Kentucky that would allow judges to temporarily take guns from those at risk of harming themselves or others

Sen. Whitney Westerfield (Legislative photo) By Sarah LaddKentucky Lantern Admitting it faces a “tough uphill climb,” Republican state Sen. Whitney Westerfield filed a bill Jan. 25 that would allow judges to temporarily remove firearms from Kentuckians at risk of harming themselves or others. “There is more support...

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Louisville's 'Bos' Todd, national leader in mental health, dies at 93

Bosworth Todd Kentucky Health News Bosworth M. "Bos" Todd Jr., who co-founded a pathbreaking treatment center in Louisville for mentally ill youth and the foundation that makes the most mental-health research grants in the nation, died Jan. 22. He was 93. Todd, a Frankfort native and University of Kentucky graduate,...

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Lt. Gov. Coleman reflects on her preventive double mastectomy

Lt.Gov. Jacqueline Coleman (KL photo by Sarah Ladd) By Sarah Ladd Kentucky Lantern Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman knew for a long time that one day she might learn cancer was at her door. Her family history put her on heightened alert; her mother, aunt and cousin all had breast cancer. So she “wasn’t shocked”...

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Impact of cannabis use during pregnancy is the focus of UK Cannabis Center's next online seminar, to be held Feb. 26

Kelly Young-Wolff (Tyson School of Medicine photo) The University of Kentucky Cannabis Center is sponsoring an online seminar titled  “Cannabis Use During Pregnancy: Research from Policy to Practice" on Feb. 26. The seminar will be held via Zoom from 2-3 p.m.  Click here to register.  The seminar...

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Lesser-known health benefit of Dry January: cancer prevention

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism graphic By Rachel C. Miller University of Kentucky As we begin 2024, resolutions to eat healthier and exercise more are likely on many minds. This year, you may consider adding another: reducing alcohol or taking a break altogether. Many people have also started...

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Ky. health-care providers lobby for bill that would ease health insurers' required prior authorization for medical procedures

OPINION by health-care provider groups listed below It’s a situation all of us will find ourselves in at some point. You’re sick, or get diagnosed with a chronic condition, or need to have surgery. Thankfully, your physician diagnosed the issue quickly and a treatment plan was made, and you have health insurance to cover it....

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Kentucky leads the nation in use of new class of drugs that fight diabetes and obesity; more than 2% of Kentuckians use them

Kentucky Health News Kentucky has the nation's highest rate of dispensed prescriptions for a new class of diabetes and obesity medications, according to the analytics company PurpleLab and published by Axios. "For every 1,000 people in Kentucky, roughly 21 were prescribed a drug that belongs to a buzzy class of diabetes...

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Senate passes bill to cut Medicaid managed-care firms from 6 to 3

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The nearly 1.6 million Kentuckians with managed-care Medicaid health coverage would choose from three companies next year instead of the current six, under a bill the state Senate passed without dissent Tuesday, Jan. 16.  Sen. Stephen Meredith (LRC photo) Senate Bill...

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Bipartisan 'momnibus' bill aims to improve health of mothers, kids

State Rep. Kim Moser, a Republican from Taylor Mill in Northern Kentucky, spoke with other female legislators at a press conference Wednesday to announce their "Momnibus" bill. (Legislative photo) Kentucky Health News Legislators are accustomed to seeing "omnibus" bills that deal with many subjects, sometimes related,...

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After four months of legal sports gambling, Kentucky counselors and some bettors are concerned about ease of online wagering

On a recent Saturday night in the new sports-book area at The Red Mile in Lexington, traffic was light — perhaps because some gamblers were placing their bets online. (Photo by John McGary, WEKU) By John McGaryWEKU News On Sept. 7, in addition to slot machines and live horse racing, The Red Mile in Lexington had something...

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