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Governor Matt Bevin has announced a plan to rebuild the state’s Medicaid system. Bevin has plans to apply for a 1115 waiver and if approved, would allow the state government to create its own Medicaid program.
Bevin’s plan is called “Helping to Engage and Achieve Long Term Health” (HEALTH). A complete draft of the proposal is available online. During the Affordable Care Act implementation, the state’s Medicaid program was expanded and saw participation increase by more than 60%. Starting next year, Kentucky tax payers will have to start paying for a portion of that expansion, and the expected cost is $1.2 billion over the next five years. If the HEALTH plan is approved, the plan is expected to save taxpayers over $2 billion.
It estimated that nearly 1.2 million Kentuckians will be transitioned into the new HEALTH plan. The plan is different from traditional Medicaid, it is targeted for individuals that were added in the expansion, by requiring a monthly premium, $1 – $15, depending on income. The monthly payments will be in place of a co-payment when seeking care. For individuals that are 100% or more above the federal poverty level, after two years, the premiums will increase incrementally, to help transition those individuals into private insurance. There will be added incentives to help purchase additional coverage, such as dental and vision can be added for smoking cessation and weight loss.There will not be a work requirement, but able-bodied adults are expected to participate in activities, such as education, community service, or job skills training, to maintain eligibility. Individuals that would have been eligible for Medicaid prior to the ACA implementation will still be eligible for standard Medicaid coverage.
Comments on the proposal are being accepted and can be emailed to kyhealth@ky.gov mailed to :
Commissioner Stephen Miller, Department for Medicaid Services, 275 E. Main Street, Frankfort, KY 40621
There will also be three formal, public hearings throughout the state:
- Tuesday, June 28th at 10:00 AM, CT at Western Kentucky University’s Knicely Conference Center Auditorium, 2355 Nashville Rd Bowling Green, KY 42101
- Wednesday, June 28 at 1:00 PM, ET at Kentucky Capitol Annex, 702 Capital Ave. Frankfort, KY 40601
- Wednesday July 6 at 11:00 AM, ET at Hazard Community and Technical College Campus, Room 208, Jolly Classroom Center, 1 Community College Drive, Hazard, KY 41701
Comments must be received by July 22, end of the day. After the comment period has been closed, all comments will be reviewed an revisions may be made before submitting the waiver proposal.
Motorists reminded to buckle up, enforcement heightened through Memorial Day
The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) and the Kentucky State Police (KSP) are reminding motorists to buckle up as law enforcement agencies throughout the state join the nationwide Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization May 23 through June 5.
“Every day, unbuckled motorists are losing their lives in motor vehicle crashes,” said KOHS Executive Director Bill Bell. “As we approach Memorial Day weekend and the summer vacation season, we want those traveling our roadways to do the one thing that could save them in a crash: buckle up.”
There were 761 total highway fatalities in Kentucky in 2015, with 588 killed in motor vehicles. Of those 588 fatalities, 358 (61 percent) were unrestrained. Six of those motor vehicle fatalities occurred over the Memorial Day holiday. None were wearing a seat belt.
“Clearly this is an indication that people are not taking the law seriously, or they’re just not aware of the huge risk being taken by not buckling up,” said Bell.
Kentucky has a primary seat belt law, meaning everyone is required to buckle up while in a moving vehicle.
“We will be out in force – day and night – ticketing anyone not wearing a seat belt,” said KSP Sgt. Michael Webb. “Drivers must remember that under Kentucky’s law, you are responsible for making sure all of your passengers are properly restrained.”
This year’s campaign, funded by a federal grant through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has a special emphasis on pickup trucks. Continue reading
Jill Scoggins
UofL News
A University of Louisville pediatrician’s comprehensive guide to vaccines known as the standard in the profession is now available as an app.
The fifth and current edition of The Vaccine Handbook: A Practical Guide for Clinicians – also known as “The Purple Book” for the color of its cover in hard-copy form – has been developed as an app for iOS devices. The guide’s author is Gary S. Marshall, M.D., a professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UofL who practices with UofL Physicians-Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
The Vaccine Handbook app has been updated with the latest immunization schedules and recommendations, Marshall said. The app enhances the print version by including functionality features such as keyword search, internal links, bookmarking, quick access to schedules and tables, hyperlinks to external sources and the ability to make real-time updates.
Published by Professional Communications Inc., The Vaccine Handbook has long been known as the authoritative, user-friendly guide to immunizations. Designed for all health care providers, the guide contains practical advice and background on vaccine program infrastructure, standards and regulations, business aspects of vaccine practice, general recommendations, schedules, special circumstances and how to address the concerns of parents and patients. Specific information about vaccine-preventable diseases, the rationale for vaccine use, and available products also are included.
“We are so excited to make this resource available to any provider who wants it,” Marshall said. “Immunizations are one of our greatest public health triumphs. The more useful and credible information that providers have at hand – and in the case of an app, it literally is – the more vaccine-preventable diseases will become a distant memory.”
The app is free to users. It is available in the App Store through a collaboration between the publisher and Sanofi Pasteur; registration as well as reporting under Open Payments is required.
UofL is first medical school with two awardees in the same year
Betty Coffman
UofL News
MAY 24, 2016
Photo: UofL News
Jessica Eaton and Mackenzie Flynn, students in the University of Louisville School of Medicine, will delay their fourth year of medical school to spend nine months conducting medical research in Malawi and Kenya. Thanks to Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health for 2016-2017, Eaton plans to research the causes and assess the outcomes of brain and spinal cord injuries in Lilongwe, Malawi, and Flynn will work with pregnant HIV-positive women in Nairobi, Kenya to determine whether text messaging can increase compliance with treatments to prevent HIV transmission to their infants.
Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships are offered for students enrolled in medical school or a graduate program in public health through a partnership between the U.S. government’s Fulbright international study program and the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health. This is the first time two students in the same medical school have received Fulbright-Fogarty fellowships in a single year.
Eaton and Flynn have cultivated their interest in global health through participation in the Distinction in Global Health track (DIGH) at UofL, a supplemental curriculum for students in the school of medicine that introduces students to aspects of global health through clinical, social, political and epidemiological study.
“The Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowship is a great opportunity to participate in real-world experience in global health research,” said Bethany Hodge, M.D., M.P.H., director of the DIGH track and the UofL School of Medicine’s Global Education Office. “These experiences will take their academic skills to a higher level and prepare them for careers in global health.”
As part of her research, Eaton will conduct a retrospective review of trauma records to determine the causes of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries (TBI/SCI) as well as their treatment outcomes. In addition, she will conduct research to identify the best predictors of surgical outcomes in TBI/SCI patients using the patient’s signs and symptoms to determine a surgical plan since the hospital lacks advanced imaging facilities such as CT or MRI. Eaton will conduct her research at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe, Malawi under the guidance of Anthony Charles, M.D., M.P.H., and other faculty with the UNC Malawi Surgical Initiative. She will use the surgical initiative’s trauma and surgical registry, one of the largest such registries in sub-Saharan Africa.
“As a medical student planning to pursue neurosurgery and dreaming of practicing overseas in the places where I am most needed, I couldn’t have crafted a better learning opportunity for myself,” Eaton said. Continue reading
Thousands of cyclists, paddlers and walkers will be in motion Memorial Day at the 23rd Subway Fresh Fit Hike, Bike & Paddle May 30 at Waterfront Park.
“This has become a true signature event for Louisville – a demonstration of how much our residents love being outdoors and participating in family-oriented healthy exercise and recreation,” Mayor Greg Fischer said.
SUBWAY Restaurants is the title sponsor of Hike, Bike & Paddle, with presenting sponsors, Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated, Norton Healthcare and Neil Huffman Automotive Group.
“SUBWAY Restaurants are proud to once again be the title sponsor of the SUBWAY Fresh Fit Hike, Bike & Paddle events. The events give people an opportunity to be outside in the fresh air and lead healthy, active lifestyles,” said Doug Messmore, local board chairman for Kentuckiana Subway Restaurants.
“Coca-Cola Consolidated is proud to be a Presenting Sponsor of the Mayor’s Hike, Bike & Paddle activity on Memorial Day,” said Brian Outland, vice president of Retail Sales for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated. “This activity supports our most recent initiative, ‘Fit Family Challenge,’ which challenges people in Louisville and Lexington to be more active. We recognize the uniqueness of consumers’ lifestyles and dietary choices. All of our products can be part of an active, healthy lifestyle that includes a sensible, balanced diet, proper hydration and regular, physical exercise.”
“We at Norton Healthcare are not only repeat supporters of the Mayor’s Hike, Bike & Paddle event, we look forward to participating,” said Allison Ledford, director of Employee Wellness at Norton Healthcare. “Norton has been recognized both locally and nationally as a leading healthy employer, so we embrace opportunities like this to promote health-oriented activities among our 13,000 employees. By taking part in the various Hike, Bike & Paddle events, we all can be proactive in adopting healthy lifestyles, and have fun while we do it.” Continue reading
Carolyn E. Congleton, DVM
Louisville Metro Animal Services
Each summer Louisville Veterinarians treat numerous cases of heat-stroke and heat-exhaustion in pets. Unfortunately some of these cases end in pet death; sadly nearly 100 % of these cases are preventable. Most heat related deaths are in dogs and horses but sometimes cats can be victims of heat-related illness as well. In dogs the scenario is usually related to “forced exercise” or being left unattended in a car. Very rarely is a free-roaming dog victim of heat-stoke. A dog being chained outside without proper water and shade is also at risk of illness or death.
Dogs should always have access to fresh water and shade or shelter at all times. A dog house with ice water inside is preferable. A large tree in the back yard is excellent shade for people and pets. Because dogs cannot sweat like people they have a hard time regulating their body temperature during exercise. If they are pulled by a leash they can’t voluntarily stop (like we humans can), they just have to keep going even though they are exhausted! If you jog with your pet do so in the early morning before extreme heat. Always watch your pooch for signs of exhaustion such as excessive panting or salivating.
The normal body temperature for a dog in the summer is 101-102 F, temperatures above 105 are in the danger zone and your pet is in trouble. If you have a hunting dog do not hunt in the heat of the day, hunting is also considered forced exercise. Never leave your dog or cat in a parked car. The temperature can skyrocket in a matter of minutes and your pooch could parish!
If you have a horse that is exercised be sure to have water available and remember there should be a “cooling-down period”. Horses transported in trailers need good ventilation and fresh water. Do not leave your horse unattended in a trailer.
For more information contact your local Veterinarian or the American Veterinary Medical Association at www.avma.org
Mayor Greg Fischer announced today that he has asked the Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness to lead a community conversation on the possibility of expanding Louisville’s current smoking ban to include e-cigarettes and hookah.
“Smoking has devastated our community, causing pain, suffering and shortened lives, and saddled taxpayers with enormous healthcare costs,” the Mayor said. “I believe broadening the ban to include e-cigarettes and hookah is a logical extension of the battle to save lives from the dangers of tobacco, and today I ask the Public Health Department to begin a community conversation on this pressing issue.”
Fischer called on the department to review all available research, study other cities’ related actions, and seek public input in a broad community conversation on the issue. The department will set up meetings where citizens can hear experts discuss available research and offer their opinions on the products and a potential ban.
Kentucky’s rates of smoking and of smoking-related illnesses, such as lung cancer, are among the nation’s highest. These high rates led to Louisville’s current smoking ban, passed in 2008, which bans smoking in all indoor locations.
Reducing the prevalence of tobacco use – and resulting death rates – is “critical to the future of our citizens and our community as a whole,” Fischer said. It’s also a core element of Healthy Louisville 2020, the Mayor’s strategic plan for making Louisville a healthier city.
“Research suggests that the use of e-cigarettes and hookah may lead to use of tobacco cigarettes, and, with flavors like chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla and many others, there’s a real danger of our children being lured into a lifetime of tobacco use,” he said. Continue reading
