California insurance chief urges block of Anthem-Cigna merger
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Thursday called the deal “anti-competitive” and said it would hurt consumers, businesses and the state’s health insurance market.
Health Care & Insurance
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Biotech firm lands funding for cancer targeting
Animated Dynamics Inc. has raised $1.7 million in early funding to help it get its technology to market.
Study predicts rising Obamacare premiums in 2017
Premiums for popular low-cost medical plans under the federal health care law are expected to go up an average of 11 percent next year, says a new study. But not in Indianapolis.
Indiana gains ground in Fortune 500 amid shuffle among elite
Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group Inc. and Warsaw’s Zimmer Biomet Holdings vaulted back among the top 500 this year, while local oil refiner Calumet Specialty Products Partners plummeted.
Troubled home health care provider Nightingale to sell itself
One of Indiana’s largest home health care providers, facing allegations that it put patients in immediate jeopardy, has agreed to be acquired by a competing company in a deal that could be worth as much as $3 million.
Merck, Pfizer double size of diabetes drug study to catch rivals
The competition heated up in the $71.5 billion global diabetes market last year after Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly’s and Boehringer Ingelheim’s Jardiance unexpectedly reduced the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths in a study.
New federal rules limit value of workplace wellness programs
The EEOC has decided that wellness programs must be voluntary and the associated incentives or discounts can’t exceed more than 30 percent of the cost of the employees’ health coverage.
Indiana sees 70 percent surge in syphilis cases
State health officials are urging Indiana's health care providers to aggressively test patients for syphilis.
Indiana health insurance costs expected to climb in 2017
Anthem, one of Indiana’s largest insurers, is seeking premium hikes ranging from nearly 20 percent to 41 percent for coverage it sells on and off the Affordable Care Act’s public insurance exchanges.
Indiana urges judge to reject bid to block new abortion law
Indiana's attorney general says in a brief filed Wednesday that the court should deny Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky's request for a preliminary injunction preventing the law from taking effect July 1.
Medicaid cuts spell trouble for home health firms
The state’s Family and Social Services Administration is set to cut home health care Medicaid reimbursements for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, aides, therapists and pathologists.
CNO changes course with Monumental Marathon sponsorship deal
Monumental Marathon Executive Director Blake Boldon called the three-year title sponsorship deal with CNO Financial Group “a game-changing sponsorship.”
Hoosiers could pay more for Obamacare policies next year
Seven insurers have filed requests to set new premiums for 2017, ranging from an average increase of 29 percent by Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc. to a decrease of 5.3 percent by Chicago-based Celtic Insurance Co.
CEO Lechleiter says Lilly in ‘most prolific period of new launches’
The Indianapolis-based drugmaker said Tuesday it has built a robust pipeline of drugs that “has the potential” to launch 20 new products in the 10 years between 2014 and 2023.
Insurer’s top 3 execs ‘retire’ amid dispute with board leader
Three top executives of Baldwin & Lyons Inc.—who spent a combined 124 years with the Carmel-based trucking insurer—have suddenly "retired" after clashing for months with the board's executive chairman.
Ombudsman blasts Nightingale; company calls report flawed
A court-appointed patient care ombudsman who looked into Nightingale Home Healthcare’s operations says he found more than 1,300 complaints from patients and family members since 2011.
Indianapolis health analytics company lands nearly $4M in VC
Springbuk, which aims to simplify the jobs of HR benefits and wellness managers, plans to use the money on product innovation and hiring.
Indiana surgery centers sue nation’s top insurer over payments
A Carmel surgery center is joining others in the state in suing UnitedHealthcare, alleging it unlawfully withheld payment for some services to make up for overpayment of other claims.
Supreme Court avoids major ruling in birth control dispute
The Supreme Court failed to resolve a knotty dispute between faith-based groups and the Obama administration over birth control on Monday.
Storing babies’ blood samples pits privacy versus science
Indiana is one of several states involved in legal battles over the storage of blood samples. The cases pose a dilemma: How can society balance the right to privacy with the needs of science and medical research?