Editorial: Pharmacy middlemen merit tougher regulations, scrutiny
Indiana lawmakers have attempted to regulate the industry, but their regulations haven’t really taken hold.
Health Care & Insurance
Articles
Arcane world of pharmacy benefit managers slowly unraveling
A series of federal and state actions are putting the $400 billion PBM industry under a spotlight.
Brian Tabor: There’s a better path forward for Indiana health care
Indiana’s hospitals will continue their work with the employers in their communities on real solutions that improve the health of Hoosiers while bending the cost curve.
Ascension St. Vincent closes Noblesville ‘neighborhood hospital’
Ascension St. Vincent closed the facility just five years after opening it as the first in a new model of tiny hospitals around central Indiana.
State report shows 8.5% increase in abortions in 2021
Drug-induced abortions in 2021 comprised about 56% of Indiana abortions, a slight increase from 2020.
Ohio-based behavioral health provider plans $6M Indianapolis facility
The renovated facility will be called Ethan Crossing of Indianapolis and feature a 42-bed hospital and inpatient behavioral health unit as well as a 46-bed residential Substance Use Disorder, or SUD, unit.
Hospitals in Hendricks, Hancock counties join forces with Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic Care Network allows small, independent hospitals to tap into the giant health system’s vast system of specialists and researchers to help solve medical problems.
UPDATE: Ascension St. Vincent to close 11 immediate-care centers
The closures will affect more than half of the urgent care centers operated by Ascension St. Vincent across the state, a move certain to impact scores of employees as well as patients who use those centers.
U.S. officials announce more steps against monkeypox outbreak
Reacting to a surprising and growing monkeypox outbreak, U.S. health officials on Tuesday expanded the group of people recommended to get vaccinated against the monkeypox virus.
Commission says $250M investment needed for Indiana public health
A commission tasked with reviewing Indiana’s public health infrastructure has found spending per capita lags and is set to pitch a significant investment.
Cook Group sued for ‘unreasonably high fees’ in 401(k) plan
Cook Group, the Bloomington-based maker of medical devices, is being sued by a participant of its 401(k) retirement plan. Cook officials said the company planned to fight the suit.
Concierge medical group moves from Indianapolis to Carmel
Priority Physicians’ new facility 12174 N. Meridian St., Suite 300, replaces its original flagship office in Indianapolis.
Pfizer says tweaked COVID-19 shots boost omicron protection
The FDA is considering ordering a recipe change for the vaccines made by both Pfizer and rival Moderna in hopes that modified boosters could better protect against another COVID surge expected this fall and winter.
COVID-19 vaccines saved 20M lives in 1st year, scientists say
The researchers used data from 185 countries to estimate that vaccines prevented 4.2 million COVID-19 deaths in India, 1.9 million in the United States, 1 million in Brazil, 631,000 in France and 507,000 in the United Kingdom.
FDA bans Juul e-cigarettes tied to teen vaping surge
The action is part of a sweeping effort by the Food and Drug Administration to bring scientific scrutiny to the multibillion-dollar vaping industry after years of regulatory delays.
CDC panel recommends U.S. seniors get souped-up flu vaccines
The panel unanimously recommended certain flu vaccines that might offer more or longer protection for seniors, whose weakened immune systems don’t respond as well to traditional shots.
Walmart expands health services in Indiana, two other states
Walmart said it chose to extend coverage to Louisiana, Indiana and Illinois because of the potential for instant impact for employees who live in those three states.
State health department announces first probable case of monkeypox in Indiana
The patient’s test at the Indiana Department of Health Laboratories on Saturday was positive and a confirmatory test is pending at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state health officials said.
Indy-based SPAC merging with California firm in deal worth $459M
A “blank check company” headed by local medical-software businessman Bradley Bostic announced Thursday that it plans to merge with Newport Beach, California-based medical tech firm Excelera DCE, creating a new public company.
FDA advisers endorse first COVID-19 shots for children under 5
An advisory panel for the Food and Drug Administration gave a thumbs-up Wednesday to vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer for children under 5. It’s the only age group not yet eligible for vaccination against the coronavirus.