Health

Efforts To Reduce Smoking Sidelined During Legislative Session

By Jill Sheridan • Apr 30, 2019

An effort to raise Indiana’s tobacco tax failed during this year’s legislative session as well as other attempts to reduce smoking in the Hoosier state.

New App Helps Providers Fulfill Continuing Education On Opioids

By Jill Sheridan • Apr 29, 2019

A new tool is available for Indiana medical providers to fulfill continuing education requirements. The training is focused on opioid prescribing and abuse.

Drug Take Back Highlights New Search Tool

By Jill Sheridan • Apr 27, 2019

Indiana has expanded many policies and programs to deal with the opioid epidemic. Prescription drug take back events are one tool to help prevent misuse and overdose.

Public Health Funding Report Finds Indiana Behind

By Jill Sheridan • Apr 26, 2019

The report points to several CDC programs where Indiana receives no grant money for things like prevention efforts of infectious disease, immunizations, and emergency preparedness. (Pixabay)

Indiana lags behind other states when it comes to public health funding, according to a new report. The analysis examines what the state spends to prevent disease and injury.

Funding For Doulas Cut Out Of Budget

By Jill Sheridan • Apr 25, 2019

Sen. Jean Breaux (D-Indianapolis) is the bill's author. She says the legislature was more focused on limiting women's access to health care than reducing infant mortality. (Lauren Chapman/IPB News) — Jill Sheridan

A bill to cover doulas under Medicaid passed the Indiana legislature and was signed into law. The money for the measure, however, was stripped out of the budget in the last days of session.

Purdue Autism Research Center Expands, Allows For Additional Federal Funding

By Jill Sheridan • Apr 25, 2019

(Courtesy of Purdue University) — Lauren Chapman

Autism research and education get a boost in Indiana with a newly designated university center. The Purdue Autism Research Center, or PARC was created in response to a community call for more autism research.

Indiana Moves To Expand Medicaid Coverage For Doulas

By Jill Sheridan • Apr 19, 2019

Zuri Davidson with baby Hendricks at their home in Indianapolis. (Jill Sheridan/IPB News)

UPDATE: Lawmakers stripped funding for the doula Medicaid expansion out of the budget right before the end of the legislative session. Although the bill is now law, it’s uncertain how it moves forward without funds.

Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed new legislation to extend Medicaid coverage for doulas.