Lilly layoffs pare communications department
The giant drugmaker is in the process of trimming 35 percent—or about 19 people—from its 55-person communications
staff. Most of that staff is based in Indianapolis.
Health Care & Insurance
Articles
Insurer WellPoint to reaffirm 2010 profit outlook
Wellpoint has stuck to the $6-per-share forecast since January even after reporting that first-quarter net income jumped 51
percent, easily topping Wall Street expectations.
Indiana’s biggest private companies majored in the basics in 2009
Health care, plastics, other fundamental consumer needs kept some companies on upswings.
WellPoint CFO says feds may phase in medical-spending rule
U.S. regulators may phase in requirements on how much health insurers spend on medical care to avoid pushing plans out of
the market for people who buy their own coverage, WellPoint Inc.’s chief financial officer said Wednesday.
LEADING QUESTIONS: Clarian CEO on daily rounds
Dan Evans, president and CEO of Clarian Health, details his cure for losing sight of day-to-day operations, how
he gauges his effectiveness, and two bits of crucial advice.
Fairbanks Foundation gives $20M to IUPUI public health school
The Indianapolis-based Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation is contributing $20 million to support IUPUI’s effort to open
a school of public health.
Report says Blue Cross worst in insurance claim accuracy
One in five medical claims is processed inaccurately by commercial health insurers—and a unit of Indianapolis-based
WellPoint Inc. does even worse—often leaving physicians shortchanged, according to the nation's largest doctor's
group.
Insurer WellPoint plans online care option
WellPoint plans to build a network of primary care doctors and specialists who will be available any time to consult with
patients.
Arcadia sees smaller quarterly, fiscal-year losses
Despite losses, company sees growth in its DailyMed pharmacy services, which packages the right dosages of prescriptions to
make it easier for patients to follow their regimens.
Study: Online doc ratings mostly positive
Angie’s List physician rating service has been controversial since it started in 2008. But an academic journal article
is now telling the docs to relax. Nearly 90 percent of patient comments on sites like Angie’s List are positive.
Obama gives states $250 million to review insurance premiums
WellPoint may face the most threat from more aggressive reviews. The Indianapolis insurer is the leader in small-business
and individual policies, areas that have seen the biggest increases in recent years.
55 employees of mail-order MHP Pharmacy firm losing jobs
Indianapolis-based MHP Pharmacy’s facility on North Meridian Street will close in August as a result of the company’s purchase
by In Touch Pharmaceuticals in Valparaiso.
Erbitux fails to stop colon cancer before it spreads
Eli Lilly and Co. and Merck KGaA drug failed to slow tumors in a study designed to expand the medicine’s use to patients whose
disease is in an earlier stage.
WellPoint spent $1.4M lobbying government in first quarter
The Indianapolis-based insurer’s first-quarter spending is 16 percent more than it spent in the same quarter last year and
in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Indiana contractors scramble for certification to remove lead
New U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules force precautions on paint chips, dust.
SynCare withdraws abatement request
Locally based SynCare LLC has withdrawn a request for a property tax abatement tied to the creation of 114 jobs. SynCare owner
Stephanie DeKemper said she pulled the request to ensure the employment projections are accurate.
Health care firm plans to create 114 jobs
SynCare LLC’s expansion hinges on city approval of property tax abatement. The Metropolitan Development Commission is set
to vote on the request Wednesday.
Expert: Reform can improve communities
The much-maligned health care bill provides a huge opportunity for local communities to improve the health of their citizens
and for local health care providers to win bonus payments from federal health insurance programs. That's the message Len
Nichols, a Beltway veteran and health policy expert, will bring to attendees at the All Healthcare is Local conference today.
Genetic testing could spur Erbitux drug sales
The drugmakers are counting on screening for the so-called K-ras gene to spur use of Erbitux in metastatic colorectal cancer.
Indianapolis startup attacks Alzheimer’s disease
AgeneBio Inc. this month landed a $300,000 investment from the Indiana Seed Fund to fund operations, bolster its intellectual
property, and begin learning how to make a drug into a once-a-day pill.