News and Events
Health in the News
Public radio, public television, and an institute devoted to increasing health coverage in Kentucky’s rural newspapers are examples of our partners helping to keep health topics in the news. While the Foundation provides funding, it does not control the news content.
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Kentucky News Connection produces health stories that are broadcast on radio stations around the Commonwealth.
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Viewers have high praise for KET health programming which is made possible, in part, by grants from the Foundation. Coverage of Kentucky’s heroin crisis, along with four separate Health Three60 programs, were all part of KET’s health programming in 2016.
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The Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at University of Kentucky uses a Foundation grant to operate the blog site Kentucky Health News, an independent online news service offering online and print content for rural or “community” newspapers.
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Louisville Public Media used a grant from the Foundation to help fund a health reporter; stories air both in Louisville and on public radio stations statewide.
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Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum
The 2016 Howard L. Bost Health Policy Forum explored the ways in which health drives local economies. While we frequently talk about health and health care in terms of economic costs, health also is an economic driver for communities. The health care sector directly provides jobs which, in turn, generate additional economic activity. Indirectly, the sector improves population health, reduces health care costs, improves the ability of the population to participate in community life, and provides a healthier workforce that attracts new investments and businesses. Therefore, Bost 2016 speakers concluded, health should be a central focus and a common goal for communities seeking to thrive economically.
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More than 300 people gathered to learn and discuss more about health as an economic driver in three specific areas: health care as an employer, health care system costs, and improving community health with a strong economy. The Foundation underwrites the cost to make the program available for free to those interested in health policy from across the Commonwealth.
The annual Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum is named after former Foundation Board member, Dr. Howard L. Bost.