Q&A: Dog, handler give reprieve from trauma
Brad Hoop and his therapy dog Gus have put smiles on the faces of hundreds of people for more than four years as part of Paws and Think.
Health Care & Insurance
Articles
Conrad Indianapolis hotel loses appeal for COVID-19 insurance payout
In 2020, occupancy rates at the Conrad dropped “into the single digits” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The hotel “lost virtually all of its business income” while incurring “additional expenses for cleaning and disinfecting the property.”
Biden signs major climate, health care legislation
The measure is expected to be paid for by new taxes on large companies and stepped-up IRS enforcement of wealthy individuals and entities, with additional funds going to reduce the federal deficit.
FDA moves to make over-the-counter hearing aids available to millions
The new regulations will create a new category of hearing aids that will supersede state-level regulations requiring patients to visit physicians or audiologists to get prescriptions and fittings.
CDC drops quarantine, screening recommendations for COVID-19
The changes are driven by a recognition that an estimated 95% of Americans 16 and older have acquired some level of immunity, either from being vaccinated or infected, agency officials said.
American Senior Communities agrees to pay $5.6M to settle false claims allegations
American Senior Communities, the largest nursing home company in Indiana, has agreed to the settlement to resolve allegations that it violated federal laws by submitting false claims to the Medicare program.
How the Inflation Reduction Act might affect millions of Americans
Major changes to the Affordable Care Act. The nation’s biggest-ever climate bill. The largest tax hike on corporations in decades. And dozens of lesser-known provisions.
Pfizer buying spree continues with $5.4B hematology deal
The pharmaceutical giant continues to invest some of the cash influx reaped during the COVID-19 pandemic. The drugmaker has announced deals valued at a total of nearly $19 billion, counting debt, since late last year.
Democrats’ slimmer spending bill focuses on health care, climate change deficit-reduction
The estimated $740 billion package—passed Sunday by the Senate and heading to the House—is full of party priorities.
White House condemns Indiana abortion ban
Meanwhile, IU Health, Indiana’s largest health care system, said Saturday that it would take a few weeks to study the implications of the law on patients and practitioners.
Marathon Health cuts 94 jobs in restructuring
The cuts amount to about 6% of Marathon Health’s workforce and were largely to non-clinical positions, said Ben Evans, co-founder and chief growth and strategy officer.
U.S. declares public health emergency over monkeypox outbreak
The announcement will free up money and other resources to fight the virus, which may cause fever, body aches, chills, fatigue and pimple-like bumps on many parts of the body.
Doctors, hospitals push back on Indiana abortion bill
Lawmakers in the Indiana House are scheduled to take up the measure in a day-long committee hearing Tuesday.
Startup buys old St. Vincent Emergency Physicians accounts, goes after insurer for $15M
A startup company that specializes in buying written-off medical accounts is suing a Connecticut insurer for $15.1 million, claiming it failed to fully pay St. Vincent Emergency Physicians for services it provided to its members. Ecure Indiana Corp. filed suit July 28 against United Healthcare Insurance Co.
Thousands of lives depend on a transplant network in need of ‘vast restructuring’
The system for getting donated kidneys, livers and hearts to desperately ill patients relies on out-of-date technology, according to a confidential government review obtained by The Washington Post.
IU Health reevaluating scope of $2.68B downtown hospital campus
The Indianapolis-based hospital system said in financial filing Thursday that the review comes in light of higher-than expected patient demand during the pandemic, inflation and sustainability goals.
The Freedom Forum podcast: Angela Smith Jones, vice president of diversity and inclusion for the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County
Jones explains how she has incorporated lessons from her previous role as deputy mayor of economic development for the city of Indianapolis into her new role focusing on DEI in the health care sector.
New studies bolster theory coronavirus emerged from the wild
The research, published online Tuesday by the journal Science, shows that the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market was likely the early epicenter of the scourge that has now killed nearly 6.4 million people around the world.
Amazon to buy primary care provider One Medical for $3.9B
One Medical is a membership-based service that offers virtual care as well as in-person visits. It also works with more than 8,000 companies to provide its health benefits to employees.
Shares in insurer formerly known as Anthem plunge on high medical costs
Investors were disappointed even as Elevance Health Inc. increased its full-year profit outlook and beat analysts’ projections for second-quarter earnings.