House votes to protect abortion rights amid state challenges
The House passed legislation Friday that would guarantee a woman’s right to an abortion, an effort by Democrats to circumvent a new Texas law that has placed that access under threat.
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Indiana makes Pfizer COVID vaccine boosters available to eligible Hoosiers
The Indiana Department of Health announced Friday that booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine are available to eligible Hoosiers following federal authorization of the additional dose.
House to vote on abortion rights as Roe v. Wade is challenged
The House is voting Friday on legislation aimed at guaranteeing a woman’s right to an abortion, an effort by House Democrats to circumvent a new Texas law that has placed that access under threat.
National Guard deployed to aid southern Indiana hospital
Indiana National Guard members have been deployed to a southern Indiana hospital to support medical staff facing increased workloads fueled in part by patients being treated for COVID-19.
Holcomb calls Biden’s vaccine order ‘a bridge too far’
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, who has long urged Hoosiers to get COVID-19 vaccines, on Friday pushed back against President Biden’s order that all businesses with more than 100 employees require their workers to be immunized or face weekly testing.
Ex-NFL players plead guilty to health care fraud scheme
Former NFL players Clinton Portis, Tamarick Vanover and Robert McCune pleaded guilty for their roles in a nationwide health care fraud scheme and could face years in prison, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
IU Health suspends hundreds of unvaccinated workers, postpones all inpatient elective surgeries
Hundreds of Indiana University Health did not meet Wednesday’s deadline to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and will be suspended immediately, the hospital system confirmed Thursday.
Justices uphold distinction between active, passive fraud, find in favor of clinic after missed diagnosis
The Indiana Supreme Court has reinstated judgment in favor of a now-defunct clinic that missed a woman’s hepatitis C diagnosis, finding that the patient’s medical malpractice claim was untimely.
IU Health to suspend half of elective surgeries, procedures in response to COVID-19 surge
Indiana University Health, the state’s largest hospital system, said it will temporarily suspend 50% of all inpatient elective surgeries and procedures throughout the system in response to surging COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.
Petition to rehear FNHRA fails at 7th Circuit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a petition for a rehearing filed by the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, letting stand a decision that found patients can enforce the rights outlined in the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act.
7th Circuit revives Reid Hospital’s breach of contract dispute
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned summary judgment against Reid Hospital, finding the custom-tailored language in a contract the health care provider signed with an outside vendor for billing and collection services makes clear the parties did not intend insulate the vendor entirely from damages.
Health and Hospital Corp. seeks rehearing for 7th Circuit’s ruling allowing family to sue nursing home
The Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County is asking the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to reexamine its recent ruling on the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987, saying the opinion conflicts with the court’s previous decision on the federal statute and “federalize(s) a large swath of state medical malpractice law.”
7th Circuit revives case against Indiana nursing home, finding federal law allows for private right of action
In considering the plight of a northern Indiana man whose health worsened when he was a resident of Valparaiso Care and Rehabilitation, a state-run nursing facility, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has aligned with the 3rd and 9th Circuits in finding patients can enforce the rights offered under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act.
Anderson, Foster: OCR shows unwavering commitment to Right of Access initiative
The Office of Civil Rights under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services continues to enforce individuals’ rights to access their health information through its Right of Access Initiative. Through its initiative, OCR vigorously enforces individuals’ rights to receive copies of their medical records without facing overcharges.
Willett, Speck: Legislative, policy changes to telehealth post-COVID
Although the practice of telehealth well preceded COVID-19, the pandemic sparked a substantial boom in the use of telehealth services. Along with this boom came legislative and policy changes both at the state and federal levels.
‘All part of the bargain’: Hoosiers respond to dismissal of complaint against hospital’s vaccine requirement
A federal judge last month swatted away a lawsuit filed by more than 100 health care workers who opposed a requirement by their employer, Houston Methodist, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by June 7. Many Hoosier health care workers are now facing the same dilemma.
Supreme Court dismisses challenge to Obama era health law
The Supreme Court has dismissed a challenge to the Obama era health care law, preserving insurance coverage for millions of Americans.
AG Todd Rokita attacks IU’s COVID-19 vaccine order
The attorney general says the university’s decision to require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations from all students and employees is illegal under a new state law banning state or local governments from issuing or requiring vaccine passports.
Debate resurfaces over syringe exchanges as Scott County considers dropping program
Scott County, which was the center of a huge outbreak of HIV in 2015, is considering whether to close the syringe exchange program that was widely credited with curtailing the crisis.
More than 2.3 million Hoosiers now fully vaccinated
The state of Indiana said nearly 2.3 million Hoosiers had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. More than 2.5 million had received the first dose of a two-dose vaccination.