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PrEP for HIV Prevention: How to Get It Free in Kentucky

If you’re looking into PrEP for HIV prevention in Kentucky, one of the first things on your mind is probably the cost. Here’s the encouraging news: for most Kentuckians, PrEP—the daily medication that prevents HIV—is available at little to no cost. Between Medicaid, commercial insurance, Medicare, and dedicated assistance programs, there are several paths to...

Behavioral Health vs. Mental Health: What’s the Difference?

“Behavioral health” and “mental health” get used as if they mean the same thing—and a patient recently asked us to explain the difference. It’s a great question, because the words really do overlap, but they aren’t identical. Add in “counseling” and “psychiatric care,” and it’s easy to feel lost about who does what. Here’s a...

Is the Hep C Cure Covered by Medicaid in Kentucky?

If you have hepatitis C in Kentucky and you’re on Medicaid, here’s the short answer: yes, Kentucky Medicaid covers the hepatitis C cure. Modern direct-acting antiviral medications—the pills that cure hepatitis C in most people in just 8 to 12 weeks—are a covered benefit. At Fresh Start Health, we treat hepatitis C every day for...

Hepatitis C Treatment in Kentucky: Telehealth, Medicaid & Cure

Hepatitis C is curable — and for most Kentuckians, treatment is fully covered and can be done almost entirely from home. Fresh Start Health treats hepatitis C across the Commonwealth using telehealth, with one local lab visit and medication shipped to your pharmacy. More than 95% of patients are cured in 8 to 12 weeks....

What Is CARN Certification, and Why Does It Matter in Addiction Treatment?

When you trust a clinic with addiction treatment, you’re trusting the people who work there—and their training matters. One credential you may see among addiction nursing professionals is CARN, which stands for Certified Addictions Registered Nurse. It’s a nationally recognized certification that signals a nurse has specialized, verified expertise in caring for people with substance...

What to Expect in Addiction Treatment at Fresh Start Health

Deciding to get help for an opioid or substance use problem is one of the hardest—and bravest—steps a person can take. If you are thinking about treatment but are not sure what actually happens once you reach out, you are not alone. Many people put off care simply because they don’t know what to expect....

Do I Qualify for Hepatitis C Treatment in Kentucky?

If you’re living with hepatitis C, or think you might be, the good news is that most adults now qualify for treatment, and today’s medications cure more than 95% of patients in most cases. In Kentucky, hepatitis C access has improved as Medicaid reimbursement restrictions have been liberalized over time, which makes treatment more reachable...

Kentucky Narcan Vending Machine Emptied Day After Installed

Police Chief Kenny Mattingly introduced the Narcan Dispensing machine outside the Vine Grove Police Department building Thursday but noted the dispenser was empty by 6:00 p.m. Friday. Mattingly was inspired to install the Bluegrass State’s first Narcan vending machine after witnessing a young woman save a friend’s life who overdosed in a bathroom earlier this...

Many Who Need Opioid OD Antidote the Most Can’t Afford It

Between 2014 and 2018, naloxone costs rose 500% for those without insurance. About 20% of adults who have an opioid use disorder are uninsured. Nearly one-third of opioid overdose deaths happen in those with no insurance, the study authors noted. At Fresh Start naloxone is provided at no cost, whether someone has insurance or not. https://www.kentuckynewera.com/lifestyles/health/article_41c43777-71b5-5b1f-8b4c-d4e5cdfc1c3c.html

Methamphetamine, Opioid Co-Use Tied to More Nonfatal Overdoses

Methamphetamine and opioid co-users are more likely to have nonfatal overdoses compared with users of either drug alone, according to a study published online in JAMA Network Open. https://www.hazard-herald.com/lifestyles/health/methamphetamine-opioid-co-use-tied-to-more-nonfatal-overdoses/article_ed054f19-4f9a-5a9b-844b-d7a0c54b197f.html