Indiana ranks 13th in nation for childhood obesity
One in six Hoosier children aged 10 to 17 is obese, making Indiana among the worst states in the nation for childhood obesity, according to a new study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
John Russell
Articles
Surprise! Your anesthesiologist was out of network. Now you owe big.
Every day, thousands of Americans get a surprise bill in the mail from a health provider, asking for thousands of dollars for medical services that weren’t covered by the patient’s insurance.
Vaping has grown into full-blown health crisis in Indiana, panel says
Indiana health officials are investigating 30 cases of severe lung injury linked to vaping. Eight of those have been confirmed—most of them among individuals between the ages of 16 and 29. Earlier this month, the state confirmed the first death linked to vaping.
Two groups sue over Indiana’s work requirements for Medicaid recipients
The plaintiffs say the requirements jeopardize the health coverage of thousands of vulnerable people under the Healthy Indiana Plan.
Cook Regentec spins off first biotech from Indy-based incubator
The spinoff, called Sexton Biotechnologies, has raised $5 million in outside investment and will spin off in October. The biotech develops cell and gene therapy tools used to grow cells for medical purposes.
Building blitz continues at Zionsville’s Hoosier Village with $20M expansion
One of Indiana’s oldest and largest senior communities has broken ground on its fifth addition in seven years. Owner BHI Senior Living says it has a “robust waiting list” at Hoosier Village.
Doctors’ pagers finally headed to gadget graveyard
Since the first pager was patented in 1949 and used in New York’s Jewish Hospital, millions of doctors have done their daily rounds in hospitals with the gadget clipped to their waistband, always ready to hear the beep that might signal a medical crisis on the other end. But hospitals are now phasing them out.
Q&A with Dr. Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch, IU’s new dentistry dean
In July, Dr. Carol Anne Murdoch-Kinch became the first female dean of the Indiana University School of Dentistry in its 140-year history.
Workers feel sting from shift to high-deductible health coverage
Nearly half of Americans with private insurance—47%—are covered by high-deductible plans, up from 25% in 2010. That’s driven up out-of-pocket health spending among people with employer coverage—from $493 in 2007 to $792 in 2017.
Pharmacy owner sentenced to 33 months for making over-potent drugs
Paul Elmer, 68, of Fishers, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, six months after a jury found him guilty of nine counts of adulterating compounded drugs and one count of conspiracy.
Butler professor’s DNA research gets boost from NSF grant
Professor Alex Erkine is combining biochemistry with machine learning to try to solve an age-old riddle of how to identify and regulate problem genes.
IU invests $500,000 in Richard DiMarchi’s latest biotech startup
The new venture, called MBX Biosciences Inc., aims to develop therapeutics to treat rare endocrine disorders. The company has already raised $2.5 million in funding.
North-side nursing home to convert into drug-treatment center
Capitol Village Healthcare, a 52-bed nursing home at 2926 N. Capitol Ave., closed earlier this year, and had received low ratings from U.S. News and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Lilly’s hot-selling Taltz approaching blockbuster status
Last year, Taltz rang up sales of $937.5 million, and doctors are increasingly prescribing it. For the first six months of this year, Taltz recorded $606.3 million in sales, putting it on pace to break the $1 billion threshold, perhaps in the third quarter.
Vaping injuries claim first life in Indiana, health officials say
The state says it is investigating 30 cases of severe lung injury linked to vaping. Eight have been confirmed—most of them among individuals between the ages of 16 and 29.
Former bakery warehouse site to be cleaned up with $345,000 grant
The east-side site was used by Colonial Baking Co. as warehouse storage, truck loading and truck repair from the mid-1950s through the 1990s. It is contaminated with heavy metals and petroleum compounds, and has remained unused for decades.
CDC awards Indiana $2 million grant to study maternal mortality
The state, which ranks third worst in the nation in maternal mortality, said it will use the money to develop ways to prevent or manage maternal illness.
A mighty wind picks up steam in Indiana
In the last decade, the wind industry in Indiana has boomed, driven largely by falling costs and rising demand by large customers and utilities for renewable energy.
Community Health sues insurer for refusing to cover $6M in damage at east-side hospital
The dispute centers on extensive cracking in the foundation at Community Hospital East, which just underwent a massive, $175 million upgrade with a new patient tower.
Veterans’ suicide issue a priority for Trump administration, VA secretary says
Robert Wilkie, secretary of veterans affairs, told the American Legion National Convention in Indianapolis on Wednesday that the issue needs urgent attention.