IU Health plans $287M expansion of Fishers hospital
The planned expansion of IU Health Saxony—which will be renamed IU Health Fishers—will more than double the number of inpatient beds. It will also add new and expanded services.
Health Care & Insurance
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The next leap in coronavirus vaccine development could be nasal spray
Many scientists are rethinking their strategy about the best way to fight future variants, by aiming for a higher level of protection: blocking infections altogether. If they succeed, the next vaccine could be a nasal spray.
Appeals court OKs Biden’s federal employee vaccine mandate
The administration argued that the Constitution gives the president, as the head of the federal workforce, the same authority as the CEO of a private corporation to require that employees be vaccinated.
State lawmakers critical of health care costs get feedback from hospitals, insurers
When it comes to who is responsible for the high cost of health care, many of the organizations pointed fingers to different players in the wide-ranging industry.
Democratic, GOP Senate bargainers reach $10B COVID agreement
The compromise drew quick support from President Joe Biden, who initially pushed for a $22.5 billion package.
Long COVID accelerating revolution in medical research
The government estimates that between 7.7 and 23 million people may already have long COVID.
States look for solutions as fentanyl deaths keep rising
Last year, more than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses. About two-thirds of the deaths were linked to fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, which can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, heroin or prescription opioids.
House passes $35-a-month insulin cap as Dems seek wider bill
The Affordable Insulin Now Act will serve as a political vehicle to rally Democrats and force Republicans who oppose it into uncomfortable votes ahead of the midterms.
Bipartisan $10B deal near on scaled-back COVID-19 bill
The effort, which would finance steps like vaccines, treatments and tests, comes as President Biden and other Democrats have warned the government is running out of money to counter the pandemic.
IU Health says it’s ahead of schedule to meet lawmakers’ affordability demands
In its response to lawmakers, IU emphasized the role of public health in health care costs and called on lawmakers to spend more on public health. It pointed to a recent study that ranked Indiana 47th among states in per-person public health funding.
State health department makes major changes to COVID dashboard
In addition to changing the dashboard’s format, the Indiana Department of Health said it would shrink the its publication schedule from five days a week to three days.
End of COVID could mean major turbulence for U.S. health care
When the end of the COVID-19 pandemic comes, it could create major disruptions for a cumbersome U.S. health care system made more generous, flexible and up-to-date technologically through a raft of temporary emergency measures.
FDA panel narrowly sides against experimental ALS drug
The FDA has also emphasized the need for “regulatory flexibility” when reviewing drugs for fatal diseases like ALS. The panel’s close vote could tip the agency toward an approval, given the lack of options currently available.
FDA skeptical of benefits from experimental ALS drug
On Wednesday, a panel of FDA advisers will take a non-binding vote on whether the drug warrants approval. The meeting is being closely watched as an indicator of the FDA’s approach to experimental drugs with imperfect data and its ability to withstand outside pressure.
Major restaurant chains commit to eliminating ‘forever chemicals’
The effort to stamp out the chemicals comes in response to an investigation by Consumer Reports that found toxic chemicals in a majority of the food wrappers and packaging from chain restaurants and grocery stores that were tested.
Airline CEOs call for end to federal mask mandate in letter to Biden
In making their case, executives cited the “persistent and steady decline” of hospitalizations and death rates related to the coronavirus.
Indiana COVID-19 hospitalizations hit lowest mark since first month of pandemic
Hospitalizations have plummeted 90% since hitting a pandemic high of 3,519 on Jan. 13. COVID patients occupy only 2.9% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds.
Pandemic relief money spent on hotel, ballpark, ski slopes
Scores of projects across the United States are being funded with federal coronavirus relief money despite having little to do with combating the pandemic, a review by The Associated Press has found.
Scientists worry virus variant might push up COVID cases in U.S.
One reason the variant has gained ground, scientists say, is that it’s about 30% more contagious than the original omicron.
COVID budget impasse halts aid to test, treat uninsured
With an urgent funding request stuck in Congress, a federal agency says it can no longer cover COVID test and treatment bills for uninsured people and will stop taking claims at midnight Tuesday.