Tagged: healthcare

The Hobby Lobby retail chain has filed suit against the federal government over a provision of the new healthcare law that requires companies to provide coverage for the morning after pill. Company founders say they base their business on biblical principles and maintain the Obama administration shouldn't be able to force them to provide coverage that "violates their own faith."

The continued vacancy at western Kentucky’s medical examiner office has increased transportation costs for coroners. The state has four medical examiner offices and the one in Madisonville has been vacant for close to a year. Chief Medical Examiner Tracey Corey says finding a board certified ME is difficult because of pay disparity. The state recently raised its salary range to up to $154,00 to attract more applicants.

The Baptist Health System in Kentucky has added a sixth hospital. Richmond’s Patti A Clay Hospital is changing its name and joining the system. The Madison County healthcare provider is now Baptist Health Richmond.  CEO Todd Jones says it was either  change or face a ‘sink or swim’ scenario.

The confusing process of setting up Kentucky’'s health insurance exchange should get clearer later this month.

The Affordable Care Act requires states to set up exchanges in which residents can compare and purchase health plans. Governor Steve Beshear choose to set up the state exchange earlier this year, rather than let the federal government operate the system.

A lack of patients is bringing changes to the Henry County Medical Center’s hospital-run nursing home, the Henry County Healthcare Center.  The facility has capacity for 150 residents, but around 30 beds are consistently empty and it’s spent the past few weeks in restructuring mode.  Hospital officials have shut down one hall and cut two full-time jobs.  They also expect to limit the number of new hires in the coming years.