Testosterone drugs under FDA review for heart-attack risk
Testosterone drugs, which make up a growing market for pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly, are getting a closer look from U.S. regulators.
Health Care & Life Sciences
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Indiana residents slow to embrace health exchange
Residents across Indiana are treading lightly when considering buying health insurance through the federal health exchange as they move toward a March 31 deadline to enroll.
Rival’s lawsuit could delay launch of new Lilly insulin
Paris-based Sanofi sued Eli Lilly and Co. on Thursday for patent infringement. That suit triggers an automatic 30-month delay on Lilly’s plans to launch a similar version of Sanofi’s once-a-day insulin Lantus.
Pain mounts for Telamon after reporting $5M theft
The Carmel company complains that its insurers “denied all coverage for the theft-fraud loss under both policies on the grounds that the individual leased to Telamon was an ‘employee’ of Telamon, and simultaneously was not an ‘employee’ of Telamon.”
Lilly tops estimates despite shrinking Cymbalta sales
The Indianapolis drugmaker said gains in other products offset declines for its top drug Cymbalta, which lost patent protection in December. Overall, sales slipped 2 percent, to $5.8 billion.
Indianapolis businessman indicted for health care fraud
Ronald Reed, the owner of Benchmark Mobility Corp., allegedly billed the Medicaid and Medicare programs for used wheelchairs, scooters and lift chairs as if they were brand new, obtaining nearly $443,000 in fraudulent sales.
Despite exchange roller coaster, WellPoint says it’s all going according to plan
Since WellPoint says it’s not losing money on the exchanges—at this point—that’s encouraging news for those who would like the Obamacare exchanges to remain a viable option.
WellPoint’s profit skids, but meets analysts’ expectations
Higher expenses and charges related to the sale of its 1-800-Contacts subsidiary to a private equity firm pushed WellPoint’s earnings down 68 percent in the fourth quarter.
Panel delays vote on bill to require prescription for cold meds
A committee heard two hours of testimony Monday on a bill that would make medicine containing pseudoephedrine a schedule III drug. The committee did not vote.
St. Vincent hospitals not quite as rich as they seem
St. Vincent Health has been sending roughly $50 million to $70 million every year to its parent company, St. Louis-based Ascension Health, to support other hospitals in Ascension’s 93-hospital network.
View of health rollout improves, but only slightly
Negative perceptions of the health care rollout have eased, a new poll finds. But overall, two-thirds of Americans say things still aren’t going well.
New tiered network trips up IU Health, UnitedHealthcare talks
In spite of offers to strike a short-term extension, UnitedHealthcare and Indiana University Health are still hung up in contract negotiations on one key point: Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare wants to create a multi-tiered network of providers and services that would offer the lowest co-pays and deductibles for favored hospital systems—which IU Health is not.
Lilly said to be willing to pay $3.7B for biotech firm
A newspaper says Eli Lilly and Co. is a leading contender to acquire a Massachusetts-based biotech company with a troubled leukemia drug.
My own Obamacare math says small employers will, indeed, drop coverage
In my financial situation, I could save from 2 percent to 30 percent buying health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges. I suspect a lot of small companies and their workers will see similar results.
Biological drug bill advances to full Senate
The Indiana Senate is set to consider legislation that could give patients access to more options for drug treatments that derive from biological organisms.
Reorganization leaves Methodist Hospital prez without job
Jim Terwilliger had led IU Health’s two flagship hospitals since July 2012, when longtime executive Sam Odle retired. The CEO of Riley Hospital for Children will replace him temporarily.
Indiana board suspends doctor linked to 31 deaths
The Indiana Medical Licensing Board on Wednesday suspended the license of 83-year-old Dr. Frank Campbell, former medical director of the Madison County Community Health Center.
Central Indiana hospitals limit visitors over flu
A swine flu outbreak has prompted several central Indiana hospitals to restrict visitors to protect patients, families and staff from unnecessary potential exposure.
Indiana among WellPoint’s weakest exchange states
Interest in the Obamacare exchanges varies widely across the 14 states in which WellPoint Inc. is selling insurance plans. Indiana is near the bottom of the pile.
Hopelessly divided Congress agrees on one thing: Cutting payments to providers
Congress’ recent willingness to play hardball with providers is driving providers to cautiously embrace concepts—like pay-for-performance and keeping patients out of the hospitals—they have long resisted.