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Louisville students lobby legislature to exempt period products from state sales tax
FRANKFORT — Jessica Gross has had to leave school because she started her period and didn’t have menstrual products with her.? “It’s a panic situation,” said Louisville’s Gross, 16, who is a student at Mercy Academy. “It’s not the embarrassment of being on your period. It’s the way that people around you see it.”? That’s […]
Mental health support needed to curb Kentucky’s maternal deaths
This story discusses suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. At least 8.4% of Kentucky’s maternal deaths between 2017 and 2019 were from suicide, according to a new state report presented to the Senate Standing Committee on Health […]
Kentucky bill would require health insurers to cover biomarker testing for cancer
A Kentucky bill filed Tuesday would require health benefit plans to cover biomarker testing with the goal of improving the state’s cancer statistics.? Kentucky Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, said prior to filing the legislation that “it’s highly important that we pay attention to science.”? Biomarker testing “is a way to look for genes, […]
Humana supports prenatal care for Black moms with $120,000 in grants, goal is ‘health equity’
To “improve access to quality prenatal care in Kentucky for Black moms,” Humana announced Tuesday it will give $120,000 in grants to three organizations.? Humana’s Healthy Horizons made the move in response to a March of Dimes report last year that awarded Kentucky a failing grade on key indicators of maternal health. The commonwealth was […]
Paducah health department engages Kentucky students in vaccine awareness
Paducah’s Purchase District Health Department announced a “Become a Vaccine Champion” competition for Kentucky students on Friday.? The vaccine awareness competition is open until 11 a.m. on Feb. 24. Three students — one in each age group — will win $250. Student participants, which can include homeschooled students, should “illustrate the importance of routine childhood […]
Black Americans more likely to get kidney disease, less likely to get transplants
Black Americans are at higher risk of developing kidney disease but haven’t been getting on transplant lists when they should.? Black Kentuckians are around four times as likely to get the disease as their white counterparts, UofL Health’s Dr. Lina Mackelaite said last week.? Yet an outdated nationwide screening system, which operated under the assumption […]
Thousands of Kentucky kids need measles vaccines
One case of measles has been reported to the Kentucky Department of Public Health in 2023.? A Cabinet for Health and Family Services spokeswoman said “there does not appear to be any risk of further transmission to the community” with the case.? However, experts encourage people to be up to date on their measles vaccines […]
Federal COVID-19 emergency benefits to end. What that means for Kentuckians.
The upcoming expiration of federal emergency declarations during the COVID-19 pandemic will mean the end to some benefits Kentuckians enjoyed.? The White House announced on Jan. 30 that it will try to extend the COVID-19 national and public health emergencies, which will expire on March 1 and April 11, to May 11.? When those declarations […]
Former Russell hospital will become treatment center for mental health, addiction recovery
Kentucky’s Addiction Recovery Care announced Wednesday it aims to open a new treatment center in Greenup County late this year or early 2024.? ARC, based in Louisa, said it’s closed on a purchase agreement with Bon Secours Mercy Health for a portion of the former Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital site in Russell. That hospital […]
Want free COVID-19 testing? Federal site launches to help.?
Kentuckians can search for free COVID-19 testing sites nearest them thanks to a new website that launched nationwide last week.? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the site Jan. 24 with a goal of “focusing on communities at a greater risk of being impacted by the pandemic, people who do not have health […]
Calls to 988 mental health lifeline increasing since Kentucky launch
This story discusses suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Since the launch of a new and shorter Suicide Prevention Lifeline, calls in Kentucky have increased monthly, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday. The “mental health version of 911,” […]
Federal policy expected to save Kentucky veterans through emergency mental health care
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Veterans and service members calling 988 can press 1 for specific crisis help from the Veterans Crisis Line.? Once a veteran has decided to take their own life, “every minute counts,” […]