Health commissioner resigns for personal reasons
Dr. William VanNess said Friday he plans to stay on the job until Gov. Pence finds a replacement, saying he likely will stay on until early October.
Health Care & Insurance
Articles
EMS service to lay off 361 workers in Indiana
Rural/Metro Corp. says the changing health care landscape and the challenges of covering rural communities are forcing it to end its area ambulance services. It’s also closing a billing operations center in Indianapolis.
Insurance agencies Shepherd, Consolidated merge
Two local insurance agencies with long histories and well-known leaders have merged, creating a firm with eight Indiana offices, 145 agents and more than 160 employees.
After strong trials, Lilly to seek approvals for psoriasis drug
The drug company said Thursday its drug ixekizumab cleared away skin inflammation in six times as many patients as the blockbuster drug Enbrel. Lilly is in a race to bring the first in a new-class of psoriasis treatments to market.
Lilly wins tentative approval for diabetes drug
Final approval could be delayed until mid-2016 due to a claim of patent infringement by drugmaker Sanofi.
Indiana’s tax breaks for jobs cost at least three times more than Medicaid expansion
State and local governments hand out $921 million per year to entice business to add jobs. The Medicaid expansion is estimated to cost no more than $279 million per year.
Cardinal Health unit seeks tax breaks for local drug facility
A subsidiary of Dublin, Ohio-based Cardinal Health Inc. is seeking tax breaks from the city of Indianapolis to help it open a $14.4 million local drug-production facility that would employ 85 workers by 2017.
EMS company to end most Indiana services
Rural/Metro Corp. is going to stop serving more than 30 communities in Indiana. Martinsville Mayor Phil Deckard said the company will end service within 60 days.
Is this the future of rural health care: Walmart, walk-in clinics and an ambulance?
In two to three years, primary care clinics could be popping up in Walmart stores in rural Indiana while most rural Indiana hospitals will offer little to no inpatient services. That’s dramatically different from what we’re used to.
Rebates shrink as Anthem gets better at pricing
Hoosiers are receiving $11.9 million in rebates this year from health insurers that used less than 80 percent of their 2013 premiums for medical bills last year. That’s down from $22.6 million handed out last year.
Lilly among those eyeing antibiotic maker Cubist, analyst says
The rising threat from drug-resistant germs and increasing calls from global health groups for more potent antibiotics is placing a premium on companies such as Cubist. The $4.8 billion drug developer is preparing to introduce four new medicines by 2020.
Regenstrief plans new $13M headquarters
Regenstrief, a not-for-profit medical research organization, plans to move 50 investigators, 165 staff members and a number of affiliated scientists into the building when it is completed in mid-2015.
Eli Lilly to close Terre Haute animal enzyme plant
The plant closure will affect 23 plant employees, all of whom will be offered comparable positions at a Lilly plant near Clinton that employs about 500 workers.
Hendricks County pitching motorsports skill, expertise to medical manufacturers
Hendricks County finds pay dirt pitching skills of racing industry to medical device manufacturers.
Mainstreet’s Turner to sell REIT in $2.3B deal
HealthLease Properties REIT, which is led by Mainstreet Property’s Zeke Turner, will be sold to Ohio-based Health Care REIT Inc., along with 17 projects Mainstreet has under construction. The deal includes 45 future projects.
Indiana challenge to Obamacare tax-credit rule can go forward
U.S. District Judge William T. Lawrence in Indianapolis on Tuesday denied an IRS bid to dismiss that portion of the state’s 2013 lawsuit, in which it claimed the rule illegally conflicts with a provision of the federal law.
WellPoint to change corporate name back to Anthem
The name change will be completed by the end of the year, pending shareholder approval, the company said Tuesday.
Struggling hospital finds buyer, enters bankruptcy protection
Bloomington’s Monroe Hospital, which has had a close relationship with Indianapolis-based St. Vincent Health, filed for bankruptcy reorganization on Friday and plans to sell its business to a Canadian operator.
Cuts, price hikes fuel IU Health’s quarterly profit
The decline in patient visits slowed a bit for Indiana University Health in the second quarter, allowing the hospital system to use a price increase and cost cuts to significantly boost its operating profit.
Boost for vets’ health: Obama signs new law
Tens of thousands of military veterans who have been enduring long waits for medical care should be able to turn to private doctors almost immediately under a law signed Thursday.