Size matters: Big hospitals with largest market shares charge highest prices
A new study of 10 cities, including Indianapolis, gives a picture of how big hospitals have been battling with big health insurers over prices—and winning.
J.K. Wall
Articles
Rival’s lawsuit could delay launch of new Lilly insulin
Paris-based Sanofi sued Eli Lilly and Co. on Thursday for patent infringement. That suit triggers an automatic 30-month delay on Lilly’s plans to launch a similar version of Sanofi’s once-a-day insulin Lantus.
IPS boss supports cooperating with charter schools
A pending bill could usher in unprecedented cooperation between Indianapolis Public Schools and the city’s charter schools, resulting in significant financial benefits for both.
ITT shares in freefall as student-loan losses mount
ITT Educational Services took it on the chin in the fourth quarter as big payments stemming from a 2009 student-loan arrangement forced an $11.6 million loss. Adding to the woes is another probe by the federal government.
Indianapolis businessman indicted for health care fraud
Ronald Reed, the owner of Benchmark Mobility Corp., allegedly billed the Medicaid and Medicare programs for used wheelchairs, scooters and lift chairs as if they were brand new, obtaining nearly $443,000 in fraudulent sales.
Despite exchange roller coaster, WellPoint says it’s all going according to plan
Since WellPoint says it’s not losing money on the exchanges—at this point—that’s encouraging news for those who would like the Obamacare exchanges to remain a viable option.
St. Vincent hospitals not quite as rich as they seem
St. Vincent Health has been sending roughly $50 million to $70 million every year to its parent company, St. Louis-based Ascension Health, to support other hospitals in Ascension’s 93-hospital network.
New tiered network trips up IU Health, UnitedHealthcare talks
In spite of offers to strike a short-term extension, UnitedHealthcare and Indiana University Health are still hung up in contract negotiations on one key point: Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare wants to create a multi-tiered network of providers and services that would offer the lowest co-pays and deductibles for favored hospital systems—which IU Health is not.
Lilly said to be willing to pay $3.7B for biotech firm
A newspaper says Eli Lilly and Co. is a leading contender to acquire a Massachusetts-based biotech company with a troubled leukemia drug.
My own Obamacare math says small employers will, indeed, drop coverage
In my financial situation, I could save from 2 percent to 30 percent buying health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges. I suspect a lot of small companies and their workers will see similar results.
Riley building statewide physician network
Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health has signed up 200 area pediatricians to be part of its new physician network. The move is the first step in an effort to build a statewide network of doctors that would use the Riley brand.
Hospital uncertainty prompts 350 job cuts at Hill-Rom
Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. will eliminate about 350 jobs over the next two years as a cost-saving move after the maker of hospital equipment saw its profit grow slower than expected.
Reorganization leaves Methodist Hospital prez without job
Jim Terwilliger had led IU Health’s two flagship hospitals since July 2012, when longtime executive Sam Odle retired. The CEO of Riley Hospital for Children will replace him temporarily.
City, state to scrutinize charter curriculum that questions evolution
A Texas-based education organization with approval to open two Indianapolis charter schools teaches creationism and Christian-based character virtues, according to an article by Slate.com. It has prompted an expedited review of the group’s curriculum by Indianapolis and state education officials.
Indiana among WellPoint’s weakest exchange states
Interest in the Obamacare exchanges varies widely across the 14 states in which WellPoint Inc. is selling insurance plans. Indiana is near the bottom of the pile.
Hopelessly divided Congress agrees on one thing: Cutting payments to providers
Congress’ recent willingness to play hardball with providers is driving providers to cautiously embrace concepts—like pay-for-performance and keeping patients out of the hospitals—they have long resisted.
OK, I’m convinced: Hospitals actually are transforming
There are clear signs that hospitals nationally, and even here in Indianapolis, are actually starting to make good on their promises to keep patients healthier and out of the hospital.
Many small firms to opt out of health benefits in 2015
Many employers with fewer than 50 workers kept their health plans for 2014, but a growing number say they’ll drop group coverage at the end of this year.
IPS among four districts receiving F grades from state
IPS received 0.96 points, on a 4-point scale, based on its students’ performance in the 2012-13 school year—just shy of the full point needed to earn a D grade. Still, IPS’s score was greatly improved from the previous year.
Lilly needs more R&D successes to counter declining ROI on new drugs
Eli Lilly and Co.’s success at moving an experimental migraine medicine forward by using outside companies and capital is good news for this reason: The fundamental business of Big Pharma drug development is in bad shape.