Indy laboratory fires manager who threatened California congressman
Patients Choice Laboratories said Friday it was “appalled” by the comments of its employee, who sent a vulgar, threatening direct message to Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell.
Health Care & Insurance
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California to sue Lilly, other drug companies over insulin prices
California on Thursday announced it will sue the companies that make and promote most of the nation’s insulin, accusing them of scheming to illegally increase the price of the drug.
Indiana House Republicans propose fines for hospitals with high fees
Upset with what they say is the excessive cost of health care in Indiana, House Republicans want to levy fines against hospitals that charge more than 260% of what Medicare reimburses for services.
IU Health expands plan for downtown hospital, pushing price tag to $4.3B
Indiana University Health said Monday the cost of its new downtown hospital complex will now top $4 billion, an increase of 60% over previous estimates, due to higher construction costs and a major increase in the number of patient rooms.
Drugstores make slow headway on staffing problems
Drugstore chains are still trying to find enough employees to put a stop to temporary pharmacy closures.
New variant XBB.1.5 is ‘most transmissible’ so far, could fuel COVID wave
The descendant of the omicron variant rose from barely 2 percent of U.S. cases at the start of December to more than 27 percent the first week of January, according to new estimates.
Alzheimer’s drug that modestly slows disease OK’d by FDA
It’s the first drug that’s been convincingly shown to slow the decline in memory and thinking that define the disease. But the medication comes with downsides, including potentially serious side effects and the need for frequent drug infusions.
Beth Keyser: Working together to make health care more affordable
The longtime industry standard of negotiating hospital reimbursement as a discount on the hospital’s billed charges is being replaced with fixed rates based on what Medicare would pay for a given service.
Optometry business plans new office, more staff in Greenwood
The Greenwood Common Council this week voted unanimously to approve the creation of an economic revitalization area and provide a real property tax abatement for VisionQuest Eyecare.
Indianapolis dermatologist pleads guilty to understating taxes
Dr. A. David Gerstein, a dermatologist with practice on North Meridian Street, filed a plea agreement Dec. 28 in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis.
Health care costs among top Indiana legislative priorities
Hospitals are expected to come under more scrutiny and public health spending will be debated in this year’s Indiana General Assembly.
Indiana Medical Licensing Board schedules hearing in ongoing abortion case
The Indiana Medical Licensing Board will take up a complaint next month against an Indianapolis doctor who is at the center of a controversial abortion case.
COVID continues to create child care disruptions
For working parents of young children, it seems the rest of the world has moved on from the pandemic. But unending illness and child care disruptions have upended these families’ lives.
Probe: Alzheimer’s drug approval ‘rife with irregularities’
The Food and Drug Administration’s contentious approval of Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm took another hit Thursday as congressional investigators questioned the integrity of the process.
Leader of Franciscan Health’s local hospitals promoted to corporate position
Dr. James Callaghan, CEO of Franciscan Health’s central Indiana hospitals since 2015, has been named senior vice president and chief operating officer for Mishawaka-based Franciscan Alliance.
Q&A: Foundation president focuses on Hoosier health
As president of Indiana University Health Foundation, Crystal Miller oversees $300 million in net assets and 50 employees.
Downtown heliport expected to remain open at least through February
The Indianapolis Airport Authority said it hopes to receive tentative approval to decommission the facility at 51 S. New Jersey St. by the end of February. It is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to secure the designation, which is crucial for future redevelopment of the site.
A viral siege is making some people sick for weeks, even months
The 2022 winter season has been one of prolonged misery for many American families, full of sniffles, sore throats, coughs and trips to the emergency room as bugs kept at bay during the pandemic have been unleashed by the resumption of our old lives.
Indiana to receive $219M from CVS, Walgreens in opioid settlements
CVS and Walgreens have agreed to pay state and local governments a combined total of more than $10 billion to settle lawsuits over the toll of opioids.
Hoosiers urged to get flu vaccine amid surge in cases
Indiana Hospital Association President Brian Tabor said Indiana’s hospitals are experiencing significant patient caseloads due to the many respiratory illnesses now circulating, including the flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.