Weekly Health News Round Up 4.9.21

The Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate Bill 51, which removes prior authorization requirements for medication-assisted treatment. This means that Kentuckians will face fewer roadblocks to substance use disorder treatment and not be forced into a waiting period before receiving medications prescribed by their doctor.

Kentucky has been one of the leaders in the country for telehealth, which became commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the General Assembly passed House Bill 140, which requires the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to establish minimum standards for telehealth. 

As the pandemic continues, the opioid crisis is worsening, in Kentucky and all over the country. Fortunately, providers have pressed on with their efforts to address this crisis through telehealth, making anti-overdose medication more accessible and implementing new strategies to curtail opioid prescribing. 

Kentucky is ahead of its vaccine schedule. This week, Kentuckians 16 and older became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This is one week ahead of the state’s original expanded eligibility date and one month ahead of President Biden’s eligibility goal. 

A recent survey revealed the vast majority (74 percent) of college students have felt an increase in mental or emotional exhaustion during the pandemic. The results also showed that 46 percent reported an increase in loneliness, while another 17 percent reported increases in suicidal thoughts.