AGP Executive Report

Measles Watch: Allen County’s confirmed cases doubled to four, bringing Indiana’s total to 65 as of Oct. 23. Health officials urge anyone with fever and rash to call a clinic before arriving to avoid exposing others. Medicare Coverage: UnitedHealthcare and Humana plan to drop Medicare Advantage plans affecting nearly 1 million seniors, raising questions about coverage options for Hoosiers enrolled in those plans. Birth Care: More Indiana women are choosing home births as access to obstetricians declines. A new report examines safety concerns, including the continued work of unlicensed midwives. Medicaid Requirements: About 58,000 Hoosiers are reported out of compliance with new Medicaid work rules, adding urgency for people to understand how the requirements may affect their coverage.

Autism Care: IU School of Medicine researchers will lead a five-year, $7 million study to train primary care clinicians to diagnose autism, aiming to improve access for children in rural and underserved communities. Nearly 200 clinicians across Indiana and two other states will take part. Medicaid Access: A report says 58,000 Hoosiers are not complying with new HIP work requirements, as state guidance explains the changes. Mental Health: More than 500 people gathered in Bloomington for a suicide-prevention walk focused on connection, awareness and support. Infectious Disease: Washington County has confirmed a measles case, underscoring the importance of vaccination and watching for local health updates. Alcohol Use: Indiana ranks 21st nationally for binge drinking, according to a recent report.

Autism Care: IU School of Medicine researchers won a five-year, $7 million NIH grant to train primary care clinicians in autism diagnosis, aiming to ease long waits for children in rural and underserved communities. The study will involve nearly 200 clinicians across Indiana and two other states. Measles Watch: Health officials reported cases in Allen and Washington counties, keeping local exposure response and prevention in focus. Coverage and Costs: Nearly 58,000 Hoosiers reportedly aren’t complying with new Healthy Indiana Plan work rules, while rising healthcare costs are pushing people to skip medicines and doctor visits. Community Resources: A fall health fair in South Bend is bringing health and wellness resources to residents.

Autism Diagnosis: IU School of Medicine researchers won a five-year, $7 million NIH grant to train primary-care clinicians to diagnose autism, aiming to ease specialist shortages and delays for Indiana families, especially in rural and underserved areas. Measles Watch: State health officials reported cases in Allen and Washington counties, bringing renewed attention to local disease monitoring. Cost and Coverage: Rising healthcare costs are pushing some people to skip medicines and doctor visits, while thousands of Hoosiers have already left Medicaid ahead of new work requirements. Medical Bills: A national report says routine care at hospital-owned doctors’ offices can cost patients up to 10 times more than care at independent practices, sometimes with added facility fees.

Autism Care: IU School of Medicine researchers will lead a five-year, $7 million NIH study to train primary-care clinicians to diagnose autism, aiming to reduce long waits and improve access for rural and underserved families. Nearly 200 clinicians in Indiana and two other states will take part. Cancer Research: Eli Lilly reported early-stage results for its investigational ovarian cancer drug combined with bevacizumab: 79% of patients had a confirmed response. The treatment is being studied in Phase 3 trials. Public Health: Indiana health officials reported new measles cases in Allen County. Care Affordability: Thousands of Hoosiers have already lost Medicaid coverage ahead of new work requirements, while rising health costs are prompting people to skip medicines and doctor visits. Safe Medication Disposal: Indiana State Police and the DEA held drug take-back events statewide, with year-round disposal sites also available in Michiana.

Autism Care: An IU School of Medicine-led study, backed by a five-year, $7 million NIH grant, will train nearly 200 primary care clinicians in Indiana and two other states to diagnose autism, aiming to reduce long waits and improve access in rural and underserved communities. Measles: Allen County has reported new cases, adding to a statewide outbreak that reached 50 cases, according to recent state updates. Affordability: Rising health costs are leading some people to skip doctor visits, ration prescriptions or go without coverage; meanwhile, thousands of Hoosiers have already left Medicaid before new work requirements take effect. Rural Hospitals: Parkview Health plans to acquire Ovation Healthcare as part of an effort to build a broader platform focused on rural hospitals.

Autism Care: IU School of Medicine researchers will lead a five-year, $7 million NIH study to train primary care clinicians to diagnose autism, aiming to ease long waits, especially in rural and underserved communities. Nearly 200 clinicians in Indiana and two other states will take part. Drug Safety: Indiana State Police are collecting unwanted medications for free disposal on Saturday. Separately, federal regulators plan to restrict concentrated 7-OH kratom products, after a report linked the substance to a severe brain injury in an Indiana toddler. Infectious Disease: Indiana’s measles count reached 50 this week, while flu cases are surging nationwide and affecting the state. Research and Rural Care: IU is investing $15 million to establish a neuro-oncology research center, and Parkview Health plans to acquire rural-healthcare partner Ovation Healthcare.

Autism Access: IU School of Medicine researchers received a five-year, $7 million NIH grant to train primary care clinicians to diagnose autism, aiming to shorten waits for children, especially in rural and underserved communities. Family Support: The Villages of Indiana expanded its Healthy Families home-visiting program from 11 counties to 20, adding services in nine counties. Children’s Wellness: Indiana Youth Institute says more than one in five Hoosier children have obesity; among children ages 2 to 5, obesity rose 83% from 2014 to 2023. Drug Safety: An Auburn toddler suffered catastrophic brain injury after suspected exposure to 7-OH, a kratom-related drug; a 20-year-old man faces a neglect charge. Cancer Research: IU established a neuro-oncology research center with a $15 million investment. Infectious Disease: Indiana’s measles count reached 50, while health officials also report rising flu cases affecting the state.

Autism Care: IU School of Medicine researchers received a five-year, $7 million NIH grant to test whether training primary-care clinicians can expand access to autism evaluations, especially in underserved communities. The study will involve nearly 200 clinicians across Indiana and two other states. Public Health: Indiana’s measles count has reached 50, while health officials warn that rising flu cases nationwide are also affecting the state. Mosquitoes in Pike County tested positive for West Nile virus; no human cases have been detected there. Health System News: Parkview Health plans to acquire Ovation Healthcare, a Tennessee firm that works with more than 500 health organizations. Health Update: State Sen. Ron Alting resigned, citing changes in his judgment and cognition and ongoing medical evaluations.

Autism Care: IU School of Medicine researchers will use a five-year, $7 million NIH grant to train primary care clinicians to evaluate children for autism, aiming to ease specialist shortages, especially in rural and underserved communities. Nearly 200 clinicians in Indiana and two other states will take part. Measles: Indiana’s cases have reached 45, with Adams County cases doubling and Wayne County remaining the largest cluster, according to a recent state update. Maternal Health: Alliance Health Centers received a $30,000 grant to expand prenatal care for uninsured and underinsured women in northeast Indiana, including support for certified nurse midwives. Medication Safety: Indiana State Police and the DEA will host a free, anonymous prescription drug take-back event Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Evansville post; needles won’t be accepted. Nursing Home Care: Proposed federal Medicaid payment limits could put funding for Indiana nursing homes at risk, though the state-level impact remains unclear.

Pediatric Care: IU School of Medicine researchers will lead a five-year, $7 million NIH study to train primary-care clinicians to diagnose autism. The project will involve nearly 200 clinicians in Indiana, Massachusetts and Tennessee, aiming to improve access for families facing specialist shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas. Parkview Services: Fort Wayne-based Parkview has restored MyChart refills, messaging and appointment scheduling after a network outage, but billing and video visits remain offline. The health system says there is no indication patient data was compromised; the outage’s cause is still unclear. Rural Hospitals: Parkview’s planned acquisition of Tennessee-based Ovation Healthcare could help it build a broader platform for supporting rural hospitals. Insurance Industry: Indianapolis-based Elevance Health reported third-quarter revenue of $51.43 billion and adjusted earnings of $6.99 per share, beating analyst expectations, and forecast full-year earnings of $29 per share.

Pediatric Care: IU School of Medicine researchers received a five-year, $7 million NIH grant to train primary-care clinicians to diagnose autism, aiming to shorten waits for children in rural and underserved communities. The study will involve nearly 200 clinicians, including in Indiana. Measles: Indiana’s reported total reached 50, with new cases in northeast counties including Adams and DeKalb. Medicare Scams: Indiana’s SHIP program warns that scammers are using calls and texts to direct people to fake enrollment websites and steal Medicare numbers. Don’t click unfamiliar links; get enrollment help from trusted sources. Rural Hospitals: Parkview Health plans to acquire Tennessee-based Ovation Healthcare, with a focus on building a rural-hospital support platform. Medication Safety: Free, anonymous prescription-drug drop-offs are available at Indiana State Police posts Oct. 24, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; Lafayette and Putnamville posts are collecting medications Oct. 23.

Medication Safety: Indiana State Police posts will accept unwanted or expired medicines for free and anonymously on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lafayette and Putnamville posts will collect items Friday; needles are not accepted. Drug Delivery Research: Eli Lilly could pay Hong Kong biotech METiS TechBio up to $1.1 billion in milestones to develop AI-designed lipid nanoparticles that may deliver medicines to specific tissues. Avian Flu: H5N1 outbreaks in Jay County and parts of Minnesota prompted Hong Kong to suspend poultry and egg imports from those areas. Rural Health: Parkview Health has agreed to acquire Ovation Healthcare, which advises more than 500 health organizations, in a move focused on rural hospitals. Infectious Disease: Indiana’s measles count reached 50, with new cases reported in northeast counties; flu cases are also rising nationally, including in Indiana.

Infectious Disease: Indiana’s measles count has reached 45, with new cases reported in Adams and DeKalb counties. Flu cases are also surging nationwide, with health officials warning that Indiana is affected. Rural Health: Fort Wayne-based Parkview Health plans to acquire Ovation Healthcare, whose shared services support more than 500 health organizations. The deal aims to help rural providers manage costs and sustain local care. Blood Services: A $500,000 donation will expand the American Red Cross’s Fort Wayne lab, which supplies specialized blood services to 43 hospitals across Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Construction is expected to finish in 2027. Care Access: Eskenazi Health Center Westside is hosting a free health and resource fair, while the University of Southern Indiana is offering a low-cost dental clinic. AmeriHealth Caritas also plans to enter Indiana’s ACA market for 2027 coverage.

Measles Watch: Indiana’s cases have reached 45, with Adams County’s total doubling and Wayne County still reporting the state’s largest cluster. Health Care: Parkview Health plans to acquire Ovation Healthcare, which works with more than 500 health organizations nationwide. Mental Health: Northeastern Center’s CEO says Indiana lawmakers shape how community mental health centers operate, making state-level partnerships key to improving care. Blood Services: A $500,000 Fort Wayne donation will expand the Red Cross immunohematology lab, which supplies rare-blood testing and products to 82 Indiana medical facilities; completion is expected in 2027. Food Access: Franciscan Health and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana have opened a state-line food locker, treating hunger as part of health care.

Health Coverage: AmeriHealth Caritas is entering Indiana’s ACA market as 2027 open enrollment approaches, while free Medicare guidance is available through Indiana SHIP counselors. Community Health: Marion County’s health assessment names mental health as the county’s top priority. Measles Watch: Officials reported new cases in Adams County amid rising cases in Indiana and Michigan; a possible exposure on an Indiana County bus also prompted concern. Care Access: Franciscan Health and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana have opened a food locker to help address hunger as a health need. Rural Health: A Decatur-Shelby County YMCA was selected for a $528,862 investment, and Gov. Mike Braun announced a new facility for Hoosiers with disabilities in Southwest Indiana.