FTC plans inquiry into pharmacy benefit manager practices
The consumer protection agency said Tuesday that that it will order the nation’s largest PBMs to provide a range of information and records detailing how they do business.
Health Care & Insurance
Articles
Novavax hopes its COVID shot wins over FDA, vaccine holdouts
Americans might soon get a new COVID-19 vaccine option—shots made with a more tried-and-true technology than today’s versions.
Pfizer seeks authorization of coronavirus shot for children under 5
The advance toward a vaccine for infants, toddlers and preschoolers has been an achingly slow and incremental process, with pediatricians and families waiting for an opportunity to vaccinate young children.
Gridlock could delay more COVID funds until fall, or longer
Administration officials say they’re running low on money to stock up on, or even begin to order, the latest vaccines, tests and treatments. Also lacking are funds to reimburse doctors treating uninsured patients and to help poor countries control the pandemic.
U.S. making COVID antiviral drug more available at test sites
Despite a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases, deaths from the virus have remained largely stable over the past eight weeks.
Gainbridge extends deal as presenting sponsor of Indy 500
The Indianapolis 500 will be presented by Gainbridge for the next several years under a contract extension announced Wednesday with the online investment platform.
Vaccines might not prevent many symptoms of long COVID, study suggests
This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new estimates of the syndrome’s toll in the United States, suggesting it affects one in five adults younger than 65 who had COVID, and one in four of those aged 65 and older.
Two ‘secret children’ of ex-Indy fertility doctor sue Netflix for revealing identities
The Marion County women, who discovered they were among the nearly 100 “secret children” of a former Indianapolis fertility doctor, have filed lawsuits against the producers of the popular Netflix documentary “Our Father.”
NCAA survey shows mental health still concern for athletes
A survey of college athletes by the Indianapolis-based NCAA suggests that rates of mental exhaustion, anxiety and depression remain as much as twice as high as pre-pandemic levels, but feelings of hopelessness have improved.
Pfizer says three low-dose COVID shots protect children under 5
Pfizer plans to give the data to U.S. regulators later this week in a step toward letting the littlest children get the shots. The 18 million tots under 5 make up the only group in the U.S. not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
Federal judge issues order against research dog-breeding facility
U.S. District Judge Norman Moon said the evidence from federal inspections shows more than 300 beagle puppies have died at the facility, which is owned by Indianapolis-based Envigo, over the last seven months of unknown causes.
Feds sue Indianapolis-based operator of dog-breeding facility, seize beagles
Repeated federal inspections since Envigo acquired the facility have resulted in dozens of violations, including findings that dogs had received inadequate medical care and insufficient food, were housed in filthy conditions, and some had been euthanized without first receiving anesthesia.
Court tosses $300,000 hospital bill for promised $1,300 tab
This week’s ruling follows efforts by many states and the federal government to help curb health care costs by restricting or eliminating so-called “surprise billing ” and requiring increased price transparency for consumers.
Worker shortage driving U.S. nursing homes to brink of collapse
The median occupancy rate at skilled nursing facilities, historically around 90%, is forecasted to be 77% for the year. And most homes are losing money, with an expected median operating margin of negative 4.8%.
Anthem shareholders approve corporate rebranding to Elevance Health
The Indianapolis-based insurance giant said the new name will better reflect its mission of “elevating whole health and advancing health beyond health care.”
FDA clears COVID booster shot for healthy children ages 5-11
There is one more hurdle: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must decide whether to formally recommend the booster for this age group. The CDC’s scientific advisers are scheduled to meet on Thursday.
How big is the latest U.S. COVID wave? No one really knows.
Americans are navigating murky waters in the latest wave of the pandemic, with highly transmissible subvariants of omicron spreading as governments drop measures to contain the virus and reveal less data about infections.
U.S. deaths from COVID reach 1 million
The U.S. is averaging about 300 COVID-19 deaths per day, compared with a peak of about 3,400 a day in January 2021.
Baby formula shortage fueling spike in milk bank interest
It’s a pathway that won’t work for every formula-fed baby, especially those with special dietary needs, and it comes with challenges because the country’s dozens of not-for-profit milk banks prioritize feeding medically fragile infants.
White House warning: U.S. ‘vulnerable’ to COVID without new shots
White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha issued a dire warning Thursday that the U.S. will be increasingly vulnerable to the coronavirus this fall and winter if Congress doesn’t swiftly approve new funding for more vaccines and treatments.