Statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations climb to another high
The Indiana State Department of Health on Friday reported 15,926 new cases of COVID-19, the second-highest mark during the pandemic, trailing the all-time high of 16,563 on Thursday.
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Federal testing website launches next week with 4-test-per-home limit
The White House said the four-test limit on website orders will be applied to each residential address and will apply to the first tranche of 500 million tests. It estimates that the cost of purchasing and distributing the first block of tests at $4 billion.
Statewide COVID-19 cases reach all-time high
The Indiana State Department of Health released the latest statistics for breakthrough cases, hospitalizations and deaths on Thursday.
COVID-19 pill rollout stymied by shortages as omicron rages
Two brand-new COVID-19 pills that were supposed to be an important weapon against the pandemic in the United States are in short supply and have played little role in the fight against the omicron wave of infections.
U.S. to double free COVID tests, add masks to fight omicron
The federal government plans will double to 1 billion the rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests to be distributed free to Americans, along with “high-quality masks.”
Statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations hit another peak
The Indiana State Department of Health on Wednesday reported more than 15,000 new cases of COVID-19 and 125 additional deaths.
As shortage of nurses grows, IU Health gives Ivy Tech $8.75M to expand nursing program
Ivy Tech will use the money to pay faculty and recruit staff, buy educational equipment and fund support services for students, the two organizations said in a joint announcement.
Indiana House panel approves sweeping bill aimed at nursing shortage
The bill, which allows nursing schools to increase enrollment and hire more part-time instructors, is widely supported by Indiana hospital systems, nursing schools and the long-term-care industry.
Omicron might be headed for rapid drop in United States, Britain
The reason: The COVID-19 variant has proved so wildly contagious that it may already be running out of people to infect, just a month and a half after it was first detected in South Africa.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Indiana reach all-time high
Indiana Hospital Association President Brian Tabor said hospitals around the state “have reached a state of crisis with dwindling capacity left to care for patients.”
Medicare limits coverage of $28,000-a-year Alzheimer’s drug
Medicare officials stressed Tuesday that they did not take cost into account in the coverage decision, but rather whether Aduhelm is “reasonable and necessary” for treating Alzheimer’s patients enrolled in the program.
U.S. shoppers find some groceries scarce due to virus, weather
The shortages are widespread, impacting produce and meat as well as packaged goods such as cereal. And they’re being reported nationwide.
Pfizer plans to make up to 100M doses of omicron-specific vaccine by spring
The company has climbed to the lead in global vaccine production with 3 billion doses in 2021 and is planning to produce up to 4 billion doses in 2022.
CDC weighs recommending better masks against omicron variant
With the highly transmissible omicron variant spurring record levels of infections and hospitalizations, experts have repeatedly urged the Biden administration to recommend the better-quality masks rather than cloth coverings to protect against an airborne virus.
Some health providers letting COVID-infected staff stay on the job
The move is a reaction to the severe hospital staffing shortages and crushing caseloads that the omicron variant is causing.
Home COVID-19 tests to be covered by insurers starting Saturday
Under the new policy, first detailed to the AP, Americans will be able to either purchase home testing kits for free under their insurance or submit receipts for the tests for reimbursement, up to the monthly per-person limit.
Indiana’s death toll from COVID-19 climbs past 19,000
COVID-19 patients occupy 37% of Indiana’s intensive care unit beds. The state has 12.6% of its ICU beds available overall.
Two former Anthem employees sue company, claim high quotas resulted in unpaid overtime
Two former employees of Anthem Inc. claim the Indianapolis-based health insurer set work quotas so high that it was impossible to meet them in a 40-hour week, forcing them to work unpaid overtime. Anthem declined to comment.
Medicare told to reassess premium hike caused by Alzheimer’s drug
U.S. health secretary Xavier Becerra on Monday ordered Medicare to reassess a big premium increase facing millions of seniors this year, attributed in large part to a pricey new Alzheimer’s drug with questionable benefits.
Home-health products provider Apria Inc. bought by Owens & Minor for $1.6B
The deal will combine Owens & Minor’s product lines in diabetes, ostomy, incontinence and wound care with Indianapolis-based Apria’s product portfolio in home respiratory, obstructive sleep apnea and negative pressure wound therapy.