House panel approves bill to raise state smoking age from 18 to 21
Lawmakers stripped a provision from the bill that would have boosted the cigarette tax from 99 cents a pack to $2.99.
Health Care Businesses
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Hospital groups creating company to make cheap generic drugs
Several major not-for-profit hospital groups, including the parent of St. Vincent Health in Indianapolis, are trying their own solution to drug shortages and high prices.
Health network pays about $55,000 ransom to hackers
Hancock Health in Greenfield says it has been able to recover the use of its computers and that no patient information was adversely affected.
Methodist Sports Medicine expands southward with acquisition
Methodist Sports Medicine, a private chain of orthopedic and sports clinics in central Indiana, is expanding into southern Indiana with the acquisition of Bloomington Bone & Joint Clinic.
Trump health pick wary of government drug price negotiations
Alex Azar, a former Eli Lilly and Co. executive, acknowledged to the Senate Finance Committee that drug prices are too high and said he'd work to lower them if confirmed as secretary of Health and Human Services.
Lilly CEO says tax reform could lead to more dealmaking
Eli Lilly and Co. CEO Dave Ricks said Monday that the recent changes in U.S. tax policy will help the drugmaker lower its global tax burden as he continues to look for deals in areas like oncology.
Firm that repairs ultrasound probes grows quickly
Fast-growing Fishers-based Probo Medical serves a niche within a niche: It repairs and refurbishes ultrasound equipment—more specifically, the probes for ultrasound systems.
Ambulance service to close doors in Indianapolis, eliminate 82 jobs
The layoffs are expected to take place Feb. 2, according to a notice filed with state workforce development officials.
Ascension launches consulting, training operation with 65 workers
The business, called Agilify, will help train clients how to use digital technologies to speed up time-consuming chores, such as tracking down payments from customers.
Hot-selling Lilly drug gets OK for second use
Taltz, launched in 2016 to treat plaque psoriasis, won approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a second indication—treating adults with a form of arthritis.
Former Indiana doctor sentenced to probation in ‘pill mill’ case
The former doctor, who ran offices in Peru, Bloomington and Indianapolis, was sentenced to more than 10 years of probation but no time behind bars under a plea agreement with prosecutors. Fifty of the 55 charges against him were dropped.
Lawsuit accuses Lilly of using kickbacks to boost insulin sales
A recently unsealed suit accuses the Indianapolis-based drugmaker of offering free nursing services to doctors to induce them to prescribe the company’s products.
Cook Group set to start expansion project in old refrigerator plant
Medical-device maker Cook Group expects to start work in December on an expansion project as it takes over a former General Electric refrigerator factory in Bloomington.
Trump’s HHS nominee reaped big earnings from drug industry tenure
As a top pharma industry veteran from 2007 to 2017, former Eli Lilly and Co. executive Alex Azar built a substantial financial portfolio now worth as much as $20.6 million.
Maker of opioid treatment planning Indy-area expansion
Innovative Health Solutions Inc. recently received FDA approval for a device that treats opioid withdrawal symptoms.
IU Health loses, recovers patient info in Muncie
The Indianapolis-based health system said Nov. 3 that it recovered the bag of paperwork within hours and began an internal investigation.
The agony and ecstasy of electronic medical records
Health care providers’ frustration is running high, and even advocates say the movement has fallen short.
Trump names former Lilly exec as new health secretary
If confirmed by the Senate, former Eli Lilly and Co. exec Alex Azar will oversee a $1 trillion department responsible for major health insurance programs, medical research, food and drug safety, and public health.
Cook Medical wins first trial over blood-clot filters
Nearly 3,000 people have sued the Bloomington-based device maker, claiming the filters malfunctioned, sometimes piercing organs.
Trump expected to name ex-Lilly exec to lead Health & Human Services
Alex Azar, who ran U.S. operations for Eli Lilly before leaving in January, would be the administration’s point person on running—or dismantling—Obamacare.