Nurses at IU Health’s University, Methodist hospitals eye unionizing
The Indianapolis-based nurses cite poor staffing ratios, patient care and wages as some of the driving reasons behind their efforts.
Health Care & Insurance
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Up to 5.4M people in U.S. already have had the flu this season
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also estimates that flu has caused as many as 55,000 hospitalizations and 4,600 deaths from Oct. 1 through Dec. 2.
White House threatens patents of high-priced drugs developed with taxpayer dollars
The Biden administration is putting pharmaceutical companies on notice, warning them that if the price of certain drugs is too high, the government might cancel their patent protection and allow rivals to make their own versions.
Indiana’s appeals court hears arguments challenging abortion ban
The Court of Appeals of Indiana is considering a challenge to the state’s near total abortion ban on grounds it violates a religious freedom law.
CVS to launch reimbursement model to simplify drug pricing
The biggest U.S. drugstore chain aims to make the payment system more transparent by using a formula based on a drug’s cost, a fixed markup, and a fee that reflects the value of the pharmacy services, the company said Tuesday.
Indianapolis doctor sanctioned by pharmacy board for unsanitary conditions, misbranded drugs
Dr. Leonard Dale Guyer has been the subject of controversy several times over the past two decades.
In race to develop obesity drugs, Roche acquires California biotech for $2.7B
The company, Carmot Therapeutics, has numerous drugs under development. Its lead asset is a once-a-week injection that is in mid-stage development for the treatment of obesity.
OxyContin maker’s bankruptcy deal hits Supreme Court, with billions at stake
The agreement hammered out with state and local governments and victims would provide billions of dollars to combat the opioid epidemic. The decision also has implications for other major product liability lawsuits settled through the bankruptcy system.
Statehouse committee provides updates on Medicaid program changes
An estimated 130,000 Hoosiers over the age of 60 using Medicaid will receive notices in early 2024 advising them to choose a Managed Care Entity to coordinate their health coverage.
City committee delays decision on bond plan for buying Broad Ripple Family Center
The move follows pushback by several neighborhood groups on the north side who expressed concern about the city’s plan, which could rely heavily on the Midtown tax-increment financing district to repay bonds issued for the acquisition.
There are riches, risks when private-equity firms acquire medical practices
Some warn that the spiraling number of deals could lead to large physician groups having an unfairly high market share, which could lead to price increases and cost-cutting.
In face of low investor interest, Lilly again extends $1.4B offer for Point Biopharma
The extension comes amid pushback from several investors, including Point’s largest institutional stock holder.
Advocates say White House slow to act as millions booted off Medicaid
If trends continue, as many as 30 million people could end up being dropped from Medicaid. The numbers dwarf the Biden administration’s initial projections.
Carmel sanitizing device maker 3Oe Scientific files for bankruptcy
The business makes a hand-sanitizing device called Iggy that kills pathogens with ozone-infused water instead of soap or other chemicals.
State health care panel adopts final report, targets prior authorizations
The interim Health Care Cost Oversight Task Force unanimously agreed on a final report Monday detailing seven recommended legislative proposals for the upcoming session.
Lilly’s proposed $1.4B acquisition of Point Biopharma gets investor pushback
Point has a pipeline of clinical and preclinical-stage compounds in development for the treatment of cancer using radiopharmaceutical isotopes that hold the promise of delivering targeted treatments to cancer patients.
Lilly experimental drug lowers heart disease risk factor in just one dose, study finds
Lilly’s lepodisiran, given at the highest dose, reduced a heart disease-linked protein to undetectable levels for 48 weeks, according to the study.
State, localities starting to spend $507M share from National Opioid Settlement
Almost a year after distributions started from the National Opioid Settlement, only $7.1 million has been put to use so far in Indiana as local units of government wrestle with how to make the most of the payments.
Program to get doctors to high-need areas falling short, study says
A decades-old federal program that offers doctors incentives to practice in disadvantaged communities has had little effect on physician density or patient mortality, a recent analysis concludes.
Obesity drug cut risk of serious heart problems by 20%, study finds
The research is the first to document that an obesity medication can not only pare pounds, but also safely prevent a heart attack, stroke or a heart-related death in people who already have heart disease—but not diabetes.