Posted March 18, 2020 Order Regarding Office Visits/Outpatient Procedures On Saturday,  Governor Andy Beshear requested that all hospitals cease performing elective procedures by the close of business today, March 18.  Today, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services issued an order that all health care providers “cancel all procedures that in the opinion of a physician the delay will not cause harm to the patient or negatively affect the patient’s life expectancy.” Following discussions with the Cabinet for Health and

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Bonnie J. Hackbarth Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky 877-326-2583 (o), 502-552-3770 (m) Emily Schott Kentucky Medical Association 502-814-1388 Joint Statement: Smoking/Vaping May Increase Complications of COVID-19 (LOUISVILLE, KY – March 18, 2020) Now may be a good time to try quitting smoking or using e-cigarettes, because doing so might reduce the risk for complications from the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and the Kentucky Medical Association said today. According to the National

From the American Medical Association, March 17, 2020: “In light of the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is exercising its enforcement discretion and, effective immediately, will not impose penalties on physicians using telehealth in the event of noncompliance with the regulatory requirements under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Physicians may seek to communicate with patients and provide telehealth services through remote communications technologies. Some of these technologies, and their use, may not fully comply with the requirements of the HIPAA

A Message from KMA President Brent Wright, M.D. There is no question that the last several weeks have been challenging for physicians and all of our colleagues in healthcare.  This situation is likely to become even more complex in the coming days. Unfortunately, the paradox of this issue is that the best way to fight COVID-19 is to distance ourselves from many aspects of direct patient care in non-urgent settings as social distancing has been recommended from the CDC; however,

The Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) has streamlined its member and public communications to address ONLY COVID-19 issues and is keeping physicians updated with the latest information, which continues to be updated daily and, sometimes, by the hour. This release to our members addresses issues with medical practices preparing for COVID-19, as well as complying with the Governor’s request to stop all elective surgical procedures by close of business on Wednesday.  Despite the disruption to normal medical practice, the KMA supports

During a press event this afternoon, Governor Andy Beshear announced that he is requesting that all hospitals “cease elective procedures by close of business on Wednesday” in order to ensure capacity for the expected COVID-19/coronavirus cases. The announcement follows several other updates from the Governor’s office on the spread of the virus in Kentucky, including the increase in the number of positive cases to 16. KMA will be meeting with the administration, the Kentucky Hospital Association and others to address

COVID-19, Info Stealer &  the Map of Threats – Threat Analysis Report Posted March 11, 2020

Posted March 9, 2020 The KMA is continuing to monitor the spread of COVID-19, more commonly referred to as Coronavirus, as new details emerge. Physicians are urged to follow guidance from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Centers for Disease Control. Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack, M.D. has prepared the following special video message for KMA members regarding the virus. Coding Reminders for Coronavirus Coding for COVID-19 doesn’t involve new codes or require learning new

Posted March 9, 2020 Click here for Kentucky Department for Public Health COVID-19 Clinician Health Update Click here for COVID-19 Person Under Investigation and Case Report Form Click here for Kentucky Reportable Disease Form  

  Posted February 26, 2020 Media Contacts:Emily SchottKentucky Medical Association502-814-1388 Bonnie J. HackbarthFoundation for a Healthy Kentucky502-326-2583 (o), 502-552-3770 (c) Joint Statement:Kentuckians Urged to Prevent Coronavirus by Same Protocols as Influenza The Kentucky Medical Association (KMA), the Kentucky Foundation for Medical Care (KFMC) and the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky are urging Kentuckians to practice known flu prevention protocols in light of Tuesday’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warning that the novel coronavirus is expected to spread within communities in