Record 16.3 million seek health coverage through ‘Obamacare’
The boost in enrollment for the insurance marketplace comes as the number of uninsured people is at an all-time low. Just 8% of those in the United States remain without coverage.
Health Care & Insurance
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Lilly Endowment provides $20M grant to help youth-support workers
A coalition of five agencies in Indiana that serve youth plans to use the grant to support the well-being of professionals in the industry.
FDA proposes switching to annual coronavirus vaccine, mimicking flu model
The proposed change is designed to reduce the complexity of the vaccine regimen for the public, doctors and manufacturers. It also reflects a view that “chasing variants” with ever-changing booster formulations is ultimately futile.
Jake Teshka: It’s time to bring responsible cannabis reform to Indiana
Evidence showing that access to regulated cannabis can improve public health outcomes is getting harder to ignore.
Feds reject Lilly’s fast-track application for Alzheimer’s drug
Donanemab’s ability to rapidly remove amyloid beta from patients’ brains prevented the required number of patients from receiving the drug for a full 12 months, Lilly said, resulting in the FDA rejection.
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.
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.