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Tag: January

  • Indiana coronavirus COVID-19 updates Sunday January 9, 2022

    Indiana coronavirus COVID-19 updates Sunday January 9, 2022

    The latest Indiana headlines in the coronavirus pandemic for Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022.

    INDIANAPOLIS — Here are Sunday’s latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic, including the latest news on COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in Indiana.

    Registrations for the vaccine are now open for Hoosiers 5 and older through the Indiana State Department of Health. This story will be updated over the course of the day with more news on the COVID-19 pandemic.

    RELATED: Here’s everything we know about the COVID-19 vaccine

    RELATED: Here are the most common omicron symptoms being reported

    MCPHD hosting vaccine, rapid testing clinic downtown Monday

    The Marion County Public Health Department is partnering with the College Football Playoff Host Committee to provide free COVID-19 vaccines and rapid testing on Monday, Jan. 10 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the north side of Washington Street between Pennsylvania and Meridian streets.

    The walk-in clinic near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis will take place using two MCPHD mobile units.

    The vaccine clinic will offer both initial and booster doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for those ages 12 and over, as well as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for those ages 18 and older. Those receiving a second or booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine are asked to bring their vaccine card or a photo of the card. Parental or guardian consent is required for a minor to be administered the vaccine.

    Rapid test results will be provided on-site within about 15 minutes of getting a test.

    Warren Township students in grades 5-12 move to e-learning for entire week

    Some students in the MSD of Warren Township will continue e-learning for a week.

    Superintendent Dr. Tim Hanson originally notified families last week that students in grades 5 through 12 will have e-learning days Friday, Jan. 7 and Monday, Jan. 10  due to a “large number of staffing needs” that arose from positive COVID cases and other illnesses.

    On Sunday, Hanson said students in grades 5 through 12 will learn virtually through Friday, Jan. 14.

    According to Hanson, COVID-19 cases are impacting staff in the intermediate middle schools in the district, as well as Warren Central High School. The transportation department has also been affected.

    The change does not affect students in kindergarten through fourth grade.

    Purdue vs. Michigan game postponed due to COVID-19 protocols

    The Purdue vs. Michigan men’s basketball game has been postponed because the Wolverines have fewer than seven scholarship players cleared to play due to COVID-19 protocols. 

    The third-ranked Boilermakers (13-2) were scheduled to play at Michigan (7-6) Tuesday, Jan. 11. 

    The Wolverines also had to postpone their game against No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday because they didn’t have enough scholarship players available.

    Purdue’s next scheduled game is Friday, Jan. 14 at home against Nebraska (6-10). Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.

    Deal reached on US military curbs to halt COVID

    Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says “a basic agreement” has been reached with the U.S. on banning the U.S. military from leaving base grounds in Japan, a step to curb the spread of coronavirus infections. 

    He says details of the deal are being worked out. 

    New daily cases have surged in what medical experts call “the sixth wave,” topping 8,000 lately, a four-month record. That’s been blamed on the U.S. military because the jump is most pronounced near the bases. 

    Southwestern Okinawa, which houses most of the 55,000 U.S. troops, is among the three prefectures where new restrictions have kicked in.

    Latest US, world numbers

    There have been more than 59.76 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 5:30 a.m. Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 837,250 deaths recorded in the U.S.

    Worldwide, there have been more than 305.24 million confirmed coronavirus cases with more than 5.48 million deaths and more than 9.4 billion vaccine doses administered worldwide.


    For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness like pneumonia, or death.

    Fishers Health Department to offer COVID-19 testing for students beginning Monday

    The Fishers Health Department announced it will open priority rapid COVID-19 testing appointments for students and staff of Fishers-based schools beginning Monday, Jan. 10.

    The department said the measure is an effort to help ensure schools remain open and in-person while keeping students and staff safe.

    The testing will take place at the existing drive-thru location, located at 3 Municipal Drive in Fishers.

    Kindergarten through grade 12 Fishers-based school staff and children who want a PCR test must register online. The department said they’re only able to offer rapid tests to people 18 and younger, and 50 and older.

    Registration information and testing hours can be found at this link.

    Chicago mayor, teachers still at odds over COVID protocols

    Closed-door negotiations resumed Saturday to resolve a standoff between Chicago school officials and the city’s teachers union over COVID-19 precautions that canceled three days of classes this week. But the public war-of-words between union leaders and Chicago’s mayor showed little sign of an imminent resolution. 

    The Chicago Teachers Union wants remote learning until there’s an agreement or the latest COVID-19 surge subsides, but district leaders say remote instruction was devastating for children and their well-being. 

    Both sides have been negotiating a pandemic safety plan, including more standards for testing and metrics that could trigger school closures.

    Pfizer vaccine appears to protect kids against MIS-C

    Among 102 kids ages 12 to 18 who were hospitalized with the condition, none who had received two Pfizer shots at least 28 days earlier needed ventilators or other advanced life support. By contrast, 40{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of unvaccinated children required such treatment.

    The condition, multisystem inflammatory syndrome, causes symptoms that may include persistent fever, abdominal pain and rashes. Most children recover, but 55 deaths have been reported. 

    The report comes as hospitalizations of U.S. children under 5 with COVID-19 soared in recent weeks to their highest level since the pandemic began, according to government data released Friday on the only age group not yet eligible for the vaccine. 

    Since mid-December, with the highly contagious omicron variant spreading furiously around the country, the hospitalization rate in these youngest kids has surged to more than 4 in 100,000 children, up from 2.5 per 100,000.

    The rate among children ages 5 to 17 is about 1 per 100,000, according to the CDC data, which is drawn from over 250 hospitals in 14 states.

    Moderna COVID-19 booster shot timing shortened to 5 months

    U.S. regulators on Friday shortened the time that people who received Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine have to wait for a booster — to five months rather than six.

    The two-dose Moderna vaccine is open to Americans 18 and older. The Food and Drug Administration’s decision Friday means Moderna recipients are eligible for a booster after at least five months have passed since their last shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agreed.

    That’s in line with new recommendations for recipients of the Pfizer vaccine. Initial Pfizer vaccinations are open to anyone 5 or older. But only Pfizer recipients 12 and older are eligible for boosters, and earlier this week, U.S. health authorities said they can get one five months after their last shot.

    In a statement, FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks called vaccination “our best defense against COVID-19” and said a shortened wait for a booster may help as the country battles a surge of the highly contagious omicron variant.

    A booster after receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine already is urged two months later.

    Indianapolis Public Library canceling all programs, meeting room reservations beginning Monday

    The Indianapolis Public Library announced Friday it is canceling all in-branch library programs and community meeting room reservations as of Monday, Jan. 10 due to the rise in COVID-19 cases.

    The library shared the announcement on Twitter and said all library branches, online programs, computers, curbside pickups and vaccine clinics will still be open and available.

  • VA gov won’t overturn legal cannabis, but sales unclear (Newsletter: January 4, 2022)

    VA gov won’t overturn legal cannabis, but sales unclear (Newsletter: January 4, 2022)

    RI leaders close to legalization deal; Bourbon-selling KY senator worried about medical marijuana; Record IL cannabis sales

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    / TOP THINGS TO KNOW

    The federal monopoly on growing cannabis for research has officially ended, with two companies telling Marijuana Moment that they’ve harvested their first Drug Enforcement Administration-approved crops in recent weeks.

    Rhode Island’s House speaker and Senate president indicated in opening remarks at the start of the legislative session that they are nearing a deal on how to regulate the marijuana industry in a new legalization bill expected to be filed this month. But Gov. Dan McKee (D) might not be on board with a key detail.

    Kentucky’s Senate majority floor leader—who owns a bourbon company called “Kentucky Senator”—said he opposes medical cannabis despite strong support from his constituents.

    • “If they don’t like it, they can take it out on me in the next election.”

    The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reported that marijuana businesses set a sales record in December, closing out a year with nearly $1.4 billion worth of legal cannabis products sold—more than doubling 2020’s total.

    / FEDERAL

    Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted, “The War on Drugs has been a war on people—particularly people of color. I’m working to pass our bill to end the federal marijuana prohibition, enact criminal justice reforms, and ensure equity for those impacted by the War on Drugs.”

    Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman, currently the lieutenant governor, tweeted about a local move to reduce some marijuana charges, saying, “Lebanon 🔴  is one of Pennsylvania’s most conservative counties. I commend the DA for adopting these common sense changes to marijuana charges. Legalization is “inevitable” in PA. Those aren’t my words. They belong to a Republican state Senator.”

    Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Charles Booker tweeted, “There is overwhelming bipartisan support to legalize medical cannabis in Kentucky. The politicians blocking it know that very well.”

    Texas Democratic congressional candidate Coy Branscum tweeted, “I support federal efforts to legalize adult use marijuana. This will be a boon for investment in our country and will provide much needed criminal justice reform for our country.”

    / STATES

    Mississippi’s lieutenant governor pushed back against Gov. Tate Reeves’s (R) criticism of pending medical cannabis legislation, while the House speaker said it is “not the top issue” for the session. Separately, a senator is proposing a medical marijuana bill that would ban smoking.

    Tennessee Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jason Martin tweeted that voters told him it’s a priority to work on “updating Tennessee’s antiquated marijuana laws.”

    The Louisiana legislature’s Industrial Hemp Advisory Committee met.

    An Indiana representative said he doesn’t think there’s enough support in the legislature to pass marijuana reform.

    A Wisconsin senator applauded Gov. Tony Evers (D) for pardoning people with marijuana convictions.

    Montana’s Supreme Court has been slow to set up a specialized court to handle marijuana expungements.

    Massachusetts’s top marijuana regulator said implementing delivery services can “take a big chunk out of” the illegal market.

    Virginia regulators are considering amending rules for marijuana field tests and are accepting comments on proposed changes to rules on medical cannabis product labeling and access to facilities.

    Illinois regulators are beginning rulemaking on changes to the medical cannabis program.

    The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets tweeted, “We’re proud to announce that our Hemp Program Plan has been approved by @USDA. All growers who were licensed under our former Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program need to reapply under this new program in order to grow hemp this year.”

    Colorado regulators gave an update on the marijuana program in the Department of Revenue’s annual report.

    Oklahoma regulators sent an update about a switch to new medical cannabis licensing software this month.

    The Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission reported on hemp projects it is funding.

    —
    Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 800 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.

    Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
    —

    / LOCAL

    Portland, Oregon officials posted application materials for cannabis business emergency relief funds.

    Oakland, California’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission will meet on Thursday.

    / INTERNATIONAL

    Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he will “never, never apologise for the deaths” in his nation’s bloody “drug war.”

    London, England’s mayor clarified that a new arrest diversion plan will only apply to people under 25 and for marijuana only, not other drugs. A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacted by saying that “illegal drugs destroy lives and fuel violence.” And the leader of the Labour Party said he’s “not in favour of changing the drugs laws.”

    Quebec, Canada’s government is denying access to marijuana and alcohol retail locations to people who have not received COVID vaccinations.

    / SCIENCE & HEALTH

    A study concluded that medical cannabis “use for chronic pain is increasing with cannabis legalization.”

    A study of mice suggested that “both cannabinoids and terpenes in oil extracts should be considered as potential therapeutic agents against epileptic seizures and epilepsy.”

    / ADVOCACY, OPINION & ANALYSIS

    The Kentucky Democratic Party tweeted, “Nine out of 10 Kentuckians support legalizing medical marijuana. Republicans in Frankfort aren’t representing Kentucky’s interests — just their own.”

    The Indiana Democratic Party tweeted, “A state that Donald Trump won by 16 points [Montana] made recreational cannabis legal. The @indgop’s opposition to marijuana is more out of touch with most of the larger @GOP. Their partisanship is harming Indiana’s economic potential.”

    The Association for Cannabis Health and Medicine will host a summit on cannabis in sports on January 22.

    / BUSINESS

    MJBiz was acquired by Emerald Holding, Inc.

    The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company acquired Luxx Lighting and True Liberty Bags.

    Trulieve Cannabis Corp. won a dismissal of a lawsuit that accused the company of misleading investors about the quality of its cultivation facilities.

    The Honeybee Collective raised a $107,000 funding round.

    / CULTURE

    David Crosby gave a reporter tips about how to roll a joint and spoke about his forthcoming cannabis brand.

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  • ‘No Surprises’ Legislation Benefits Rural Residents Starting January 1

    ‘No Surprises’ Legislation Benefits Rural Residents Starting January 1


    By Liz Carey November 1, 2021 for The Daily Yonder

    Imagine for a moment you are a rural teacher driving home on a wintery day.

    As you navigate the icy roads, your car runs off the road and into a ditch. A passing motorist sees the accident and calls 9-1-1. Unconscious, you aren’t aware what is happening. When the emergency medical crew shows up to treat you., and there’s no one around to give consent for you.

    The small critical access hospital in your hometown can’t provide you with the care you need though, so you’re loaded into an air ambulance and flown to a medical center in a nearby urban area. With you are a nurse and a paramedic, providing you with the care you need to get you to the medical center alive. Again, you’re not given a choice where to go. No one checks your insurance to make sure the hospital is in your network.

    After arriving at the hospital, you’re treated by emergency physicians, anesthesiologists, pathologists, X-ray technicians, and attending surgical staff. Within a few days, you’ve recovered and you’re released from the hospital.

    Three months later, the bills start coming in.

    The hospital may be in-network, but the anesthesiologist isn’t. While your insurance will cover your hospital stay, it only pays the anesthesiologist what it would pay any other anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist bills you for the rest. And since your insurance company doesn’t cover air ambulance rides, you’re responsible for the entire bill, which could be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Even though you didn’t choose the air ambulance company, or authorize being transported that way, you are on the hook for the out-of-pocket expense. Because it’s not something that’s covered by your private insurance company, the expense doesn’t apply to your deductible either.

    On your teachers’ salary, you’re unable to pay the bill that could amount to what you make in a year. The bill is sent to collections. Unable to pay, you’re forced to file for bankruptcy, ruining your credit.

    Scenarios like these, researchers say, are common. But new legislation designed to combat surprise medical bills and bills for air ambulances will take effect January 1, 2022.

    As part of the “No Surprises Act”, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Treasury, along with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), have issued new rules and requirements surrounding healthcare costs that seek to get rid of surprise billing and balance billing. The new rules also apply to services provided by ambulances and air ambulances.

    Frequently, the quickest means of transportation for rural patients in emergencies are air ambulances. With rural hospitals closing, said Melissa Ballengee Alexander, professor of law at the University of Wyoming, in her piece “Rural Health Inequity and the Air Ambulance Abyss,” air ambulances are a necessary mode of transportation, but add to the inequity of rural healthcare – increasing costs for rural residents.

    “Three-fourths of air ambulance transports are out-of-network, and the average balance bill sent to patients greatly exceeds the savings held by most Americans,” Alexander wrote in the Wyoming Law Review.

    Providers are asking the uninsured and under-insured to pay up to 9.5 times the rate paid by Medicare. These inequitable cost and cost-shifting problems are getting worse each year, and they are disproportionately borne by rural populations who can least afford them. In addition to cost and cost-shifting issues, there are supply challenges. In some areas, oversupply of air ambulances has dramatically increased prices, as more providers spread their high fixed costs over fewer patients. In other areas, there are not enough air ambulances available within a reasonable response time. The problem is particularly acute in rural areas, which rely heavily on air ambulance transport to address gaps in access to care.

    Patients rarely have control over the use of air ambulances when it comes to their care, as well as which services are used, and whether or not they are covered by their insurance provider.

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimated the median cost for air ambulance transportation at between $36,000 and $40,000. While air ambulance providers are not allowed to send surprise bills to Medicaid or Medicare patients, patients with private insurance often find that their air ambulance trips are out-of-network, leaving them with surprise bills in the tens of thousands of dollars, according to CMS. How much of the cost is passed on to patients is unclear.

    A spokesman with CMS said air ambulances were something the Biden administration was including in the No Surprises Act.

    Passed as part of the omnibus legislation to fund the federal government in 2021, as well as provide Covid-19 pandemic relief funds, the No Surprises Act’s new rules and requirements would protect consumers from out-of-network bills and balance billing, the spokesman said.

    Currently, when an insurance plan doesn’t cover out-of-network care, the insurer may deny a patient’s bill entirely, or only pay a portion of the bill. When this happens, it leaves the patient liable for the balance of the bill – the difference between the undiscounted fee charged by the provider and the amount reimbursed to the provider by the insurance plan.

    Balance billing can leave patients on the hook for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

    Loren Adler, associate director with the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy, said the “No Surprises” Act will fix that.

    The No Surprises Act will, for one, completely stop the situation. If you go to an in-network facility or the facility that you’ve ended up at is in your insurer’s network, now it no longer matters what the nominal network status is of the anesthesiologist who assists with the procedure or the radiologist who does any imaging or the pathologist who reads a biopsy. It doesn’t matter whether they are out-of-network or in-network, your insurance company has to treat that service as if it’s in-network and that means your cost-sharing will be whatever the standard in-network levels are. And it has to apply to in-network deductible if you have that, and similarly, if you have an out-of-pocket limit on how much you can be held liable for any year, it will also apply there. It certainly should take that worry out entirely, and it would be just blatantly illegal for the anesthesiologist to send you a balance bill in that situation.