Fresh Perspectives: Updated “Take It From Me” Campaign Urges Vaccinations as COVID-19 Spreads; Inundates Kentucky Hospitals LOUISVILLE, KY (Oct. 13, 2021)—With the surge created by the delta variant of COVID-19 sickening thousands and filling Kentucky hospitals to capacity, the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA), Kentucky Foundation for Medical Care (KFMC), Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky (FHKY), Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) and the Kentucky Primary Care Association (KPCA) have introduced a new set of videos as part of the “Take It From

Posted October 11, 2021 It’s hard to believe we’re already well into the month of October. It won’t be long before we’re ringing in 2022, even though if you’re like me, you’re still having a hard time processing that 2020 is actually behind us. I think the pandemic has changed and impacted all of us, and as physicians we are certainly still grappling with its effects and likely will be for a very long time. The pandemic has altered the

Posted October 5, 2021 The American Medical Association continues to advocate for federal support of physician practices, and provides this update to our members. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has announced a new application cycle for $25.5 billion in COVID-19 provider funding (Phase 4). The application for the funds is open now, and will close on October 26, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants will be able to apply for

Posted September 13, 2021 The 2021 Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Medical Association, “Better Together” Transforming the Landscape of Care,” emphasized the importance of physicians working together, even while apart. The virtual meeting, held throughout the month of August, gave members the opportunity to participate in events from the comfort and safety of their home communities, while continuing to care for patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 250 physicians participated in education sessions, elections, and the Association’s first virtual

Posted September 14, 2021 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), recently announced $25.5 billion in new funding available for health care providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 29, 2021, health care providers will be able to apply for the funding, which includes $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) resources for providers who serve rural Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Medicare patients, and $17 billion

Posted September 10, 2021 Pursuant to gubernatorial proclamation, the Kentucky General Assembly convened for a Special Session on Tuesday, September 7, to address the current COVID-19 situation.  After only three days and two gubernatorial vetoes, legislators passed four pandemic related bills and one economic development bill, making remarkably few changes to the bills that were introduced at the beginning of the Special Session. In doing so, the legislature ratified most of the Beshear Administration’s pandemic-related emergency executive orders but banned

Posted September 8, 2021 For those unable to attend yesterday’s Department for Public Health Kentucky COVID-19 Healthcare and Public Health update webinar, a recording of the session and slide deck are now available. The webinar included updates on breakthrough infections, variant surveillance, updates on monoclonal antibodies and disease control guidance, FDA approval of the vaccine, third doses, and off-label use, as well as updates on RSV and long-term care. Specific timestamp sections of the recording include: 0:00       Welcome and Housekeeping

Posted September 7, 2021 Pursuant to powers granted by the Kentucky Constitution, Governor Andy Beshear has called members of the Kentucky General Assembly into a Special Legislative Session to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The session begins today and will likely conclude by Saturday, September 11. The special session call is available here. The Special Session is necessitated by the state Supreme Court’s ruling two weeks ago that the Franklin Circuit Court was wrong to issue an injunction back in March,

Posted August 30, 2021 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting Concludes with Hundreds of Physician Participants LOUISVILLE, KY—Neal Moser, M.D., a Taylor Mill pulmonologist, was installed as the 171st President of the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) over the weekend during the organization’s Annual Meeting, which was held virtually throughout the month of August. KMA members also elected three other officers during the 2021 meeting. Monalisa Tailor, M.D., of Louisville was elected President-Elect, and Michael Kuduk, M.D., of Winchester was elected Vice President.

Posted August 18, 2021 Today, public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the following statement on the Administration’s plan for COVID-19 booster shots for the American people. The statement is attributable to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Dr. Janet Woodcock, Acting Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General; Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health