Indiana agencies cut staff, contracts as mandatory spending plans roll in
A grim May revenue forecast prompted lawmakers to cut most agency appropriations by 5% in the latest budget — and authorized the State Budget Agency to withhold another 5%.
Department of Health
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Sew it goes: Lawyers aid communities during pandemic
For the past several weekends, a sewing machine has been on Julie Andrews’ kitchen table. The Cohen & Malad attorney broke out her old friend, dusted it off and gave the machine a whirl after deciding to sew protective face masks for those on the front lines of tackling the novel coronavirus pandemic.
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Legislation, lawsuits used to combat Indiana’s lead problem as contamination cases persist
Organizations and individuals around Indiana have been pushing for a solution to the lead problem. The toxin is everywhere and exposure, especially in very young children, can cause lifelong cognitive impairment.
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CLE certifies attorneys to administer opioid overdose reversal drug
In addition to checking off two hours of CLE credit before the year’s end, attorneys who attended an Indianapolis Bar Association event earlier this month left certified to administer a life-saving drug. Lawyers learned how to properly use naloxone – commonly known by its brand name, Narcan – following a demonstration presented by the Indiana State Department of Health.
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Articles
Judge extends order prohibiting state from disclosing terminated pregnancy reports
Two doctors testified in court Wednesday that the reports contain too much personal information and could threaten the privacy and safety of both patients and the physicians performing the abortions.
Bernard sues Indiana State Health Commissioner over release of terminated pregnancy reports
Dr. Caitlin Bernard and another board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist are suing the Indiana State Health Commissioner and the nonprofit Voices for Life, Inc., arguing that terminated pregnancy reports should not be disclosed under Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act.
Indy doctor sues state health department over abortion reporting requirements
The lawsuit argues a state law requiring physicians performing abortions to report certain information to the state is in direct conflict with new federal health privacy requirements.
State agencies spent $5 million on travel in 2024 fiscal year
Indiana’s state agencies collectively spent $5 million on travel during the 2024 fiscal year, with the favored hotel chain being Holiday Inn.
Indiana Department of Health seeks dismissal of abortion records lawsuit
The Indiana Department of Health is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit against the agency that was filed by an anti-abortion group over related records.
IDOH to withhold individual terminated pregnancy reports
The Indiana Department of Health will no longer release individual terminated pregnancy reports following the state’s near-total abortion ban. It will still release aggregated reports.
17 abortions meet exceptions under ban, new report shows
Seventeen women had abortions in Indiana since a state ban officially went into effect Aug. 21 — with the majority falling under an exception for a lethal fetal anomaly.
Quarterly abortions sink to 2019 levels, report says
Indiana abortion clinics and hospitals performed fewer than 2,000 abortions from April through June — the lowest since 2019, according to a new quarterly report.
‘Abortion-complications’ lawsuit dismissed; Rokita vows to continue anti-abortion work
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against an Indiana law requiring doctors to report “abortion complications” to the state, continuing a trend that began when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to an abortion.
State health department makes major changes to COVID dashboard
The Indiana Department of Health on Wednesday made major changes to its COVID-19 dashboard, which it has been using since early in the pandemic to provide the public with coronavirus-related data.
Indiana COVID-19 hospitalizations hit lowest mark since first month of pandemic
Statewide hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have fallen to their lowest point since the first month of the pandemic, according to the latest figures from the Indiana State Department of Health.
Indiana schools can stop masking, reporting COVID cases soon
Indiana schools and child care programs will no longer have to conduct contact tracing or report COVID-19 cases to the state Department of Health as of next Wednesday, state officials announced Thursday.
Indiana Senate backs narrow bill to end health emergency
The Indiana Senate has approved a bill taking administrative steps that Gov. Eric Holcomb has said are needed in order for him to end the statewide COVID-19 public health emergency.
Indiana limits COVID rapid-test availability at state, local testing sites
The Indiana Department of Health on Tuesday said it was putting restrictions on the availability of rapid tests for COVID-19 at state and local health department testing sites “due to high demand and a national shortage of rapid test kits.”
Hospitals set new pandemic record, with 70% of staffed beds in use
The latest surge in COVID-19 cases is taking its toll on Indiana hospitals, which set a new record over the weekend with 70% of all staffed hospital beds currently in use.
Indiana COVID-19 health emergency likely extending into 2022
The Indiana governor’s office acknowledged Wednesday that the statewide COVID-19 public health emergency will likely extend into the new year after a failed attempt by legislators to quickly approve steps the governor sought to let the declaration expire.
Rokita revises ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ to cover curriculum, medical issues
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has released a revised version of his controversial “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” offering additional guidance to Hoosier parents on educational issues such as filing civil rights claims, opting out of curriculum and the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as reminding parents of their right to petition lawmakers regarding their child’s education.
IU students again challenging vaccine mandate at 7th Circuit
A group of Indiana University students challenging the school’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate are seeking relief from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing IU should have the burden to prove that the mandate is constitutional.
State: Unvaccinated make up huge percentage of COVID deaths, hospitalizations
New statistics released Monday by the Indiana State Department of Health show that a huge percentage of those who have recently died or been hospitalized with COVID-19 were unvaccinated.