KY Health Officials Watch Progress of Reform

While President Barack Obama takes his proposals for health care reform on the road for town-hall meetings in several states, Kentucky health care and government officials are studying ways to put stimulus package funding to work improving the state’s health care system.  The stimulus bill set aside $650 million for clinical and community-based prevention programs.  And University of Louisville’s Associate Vice President of Health Affairs, Shannon Turner, says officials are coordinating efforts to tap into those funds.“From the university perspective, we’re looking at everything in the stimulus package, and the mayor’s office has a health care group that meets specifically to look at the health care aspect of the stimulus package," says Turner.Turner says several aspects of the President’s proposed reforms could benefit Kentucky, including electronic health records as well as more of an emphasis on preventive care.