Medicare rules hammer hospitals, docs
Being an accountable care organization will be the major leagues of health care after the federal Medicare program set a high bar for the new kind of doctor-hospital organization.
Health Care & Insurance
Articles
Doc groups play up economic impact
Physicians are regarded as smart, successful and helpful when you’re sick—but not usually as a big driver of the economy. Now, however, physician trade groups are arguing that docs are good for business too.
Antidepressants linked to narrowed arteries
The study included Eli Lilly and Co. drug Cymbalta, which racked up sales of $3.5 billion last year for the Indianapolis-based drugmaker.
Indiana college to break ground on pharmacy school
Northern Indiana's Manchester College plans to begin work this summer on the college's new $18 million pharmacy school.
Scientists question claims in biotech letter
The widespread Internet posting of a letter by a retired Purdue University researcher who says he has linked genetically modified corn and soybeans to crop diseases and to abortions and infertility in livestock has raised concern among scientists that the public will believe his unsupported claim is true.
Drugmaker Lilly launches global service program
Eli Lilly and Co. is starting a service program that sends employees around the world to help developing communities and learn about other cultures, as the drugmaker looks to international markets.
Hamilton, Boone counties among Indiana’s healthiest
A new report says Hamilton and Boone counties are among the healthiest in Indiana, while Marion ranks among the worst.
Franciscan Alliance plans 84 jobs at Greenwood billing center
The Mishawaka-based Franciscan Alliance plans to spend $8.4 million to open an administrative center in Greenwood, creating 84 jobs in the next four years.
Illinois House votes to lift smoking ban at casinos
Tom Swoik, executive director of Illinois Casino Gaming Association, said gambling revenue has dropped 32 percent since the state’s smoking ban was approved. He said the ban has cost state government about $800 million in taxes.
Q&A
Susan Rider is an employee-benefits account manager at Indianapolis-based Gregory & Appel Insurance. On July 1, she will become president of the Indiana State Association of Health Underwriters. She spoke about the first-year impact of the 2010 health reform law and further changes to come.
Zimmer goes on offensive against lawyers
The Warsaw-based maker of orthopedic implants has filed suit to stop a Detroit-area law firm from making allegedly false claims and using its trademarks on websites designed to attract plaintiffs to sue Zimmer over one of its knee-replacement implants called NexGen.
WellPoint gets vote of confidence
Health reform will make health insurance a less-profitable business, but WellPoint Inc. got a vote of confidence from bond analysts because health-reform rules have turned out milder than expected and WellPoint’s financial performance has been particularly strong as the economy recovers.
Maturing Chinese market gives WellPoint new prospects
Premiums for private health insurers in China are expected to rise to $90 billion by 2020 from $9 billion now, and WellPoint Inc. is angling for a big piece of that pie.
IU Health cancels $73M project, acquires Gateway Plaza
Indiana University Health has canceled its plans for a $73 million administrative office building at 16th Street and Capitol Avenue and has instead purchased the Gateway Plaza tower at 10th and Illinois streets.
Hospitals’ finances improve somewhat in 2010
It was a good but not great year financially for three of the four largest hospital systems operating in the Indianapolis area last year—and hospital analysts are expecting several head winds to continue.
Health insurers diversify away from regulations
One year after President Obama signed the health reform overhaul, health insurers are buying less-regulated companies in a bid to offset the lower profits and growth they expect the law to cause.
Self-funded plans draw small-firm interest
In the face of new health reform restrictions, expect more small employers to opt for self-funded health benefits, concludes a report this week from Indianapolis-based United Benefit Advisors.
Drugmakers call off animal-health deal, possible asset sale
Drugmakers Merck & Co. and Sanofi-Aventis SA have abandoned plans to combine their animal-health businesses after wrestling with regulators for a year over potential divestitures.
Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. was among a list of possible suitors for about $1 billion in assets the two companies considered selling.
Marcadia Biotech principals ponder next course
Marcadia execs French, Hawryluk reflect on massive growth of Carmel firm after sale to Roche.
Healthy Indiana Plan expansion opposed by some
Indiana wants to use its public health savings account program for low-income adults to cover people who will become newly eligible for Medicaid under the federal health care law beginning in 2014.