Judge to speed federal health care challenge
Eighteen states, including Indiana, argue the federal government cannot force citizens to buy health insurance coverage.
Health Care & Life Sciences
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Q&A: Jim Parker
Jim Parker was an executive at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and WellPoint for 14 years, including a year and a half as
chief of staff to CEO Angela Braly. He now is president of his own consulting firm, Meridian Strategic Advisors, in Indianapolis.
He spoke about the impact of the new health reform law on health insurers.
Employers want cake, and to eat it, too
Employers are still trying to get their arms around what the new health insurance law will mean for them. But on the eve of
the law's passage last month, a survey by Indianapolis-based United Benefit Advisors LLC showed employers as a group had
no hope the law would reduce their costs but also no coherent plan for reforming the current system.
Study: Ditch reform, add public option
In poll after poll, calls for repealing the new health insurance law get strong support. But if the law were repealed, an
Indiana University survey released this week shows that Americans want a surprising thing in its place: a public option.
WellPoint, UnitedHealth, grapple with medical-cost mandate
A U.S. mandate forcing insurers led by UnitedHealth Group Inc. and WellPoint Inc. to spend 85 percent of revenue from premiums
on medical care is the newest front in the battle between the Obama administration and companies over industry profits.
Purdue secures $15M to expand cancer research building
Stimulus dollars from the National Institutes of Health expected to spark 30 to 40 new research jobs by 2013.
Hilbert in-law’s insurance fraud trial set for October
As IBJ reported last year, Houston-based American General Life Insurance Company is attempting to invalidate a $15
million policy it issued in January 2006 insuring the life of Germaine “Suzy” Tomlinson—Conseco Inc. co-founder
Stephen Hilbert’s mother-in-law—who died Sept. 28, 2008, at age 74.
Lilly sets date for move from Faris campus downtown
Work force reductions, new business structure make leased office space unnecessary. Moves will begin in late June.
Lilly diabetes drug may have cancer risk, FDA says
Once-weekly form of Byetta is awaiting the FDA’s OK. Analyst predict the new version of the drug, if approved, could rack
up sales of $2 billion annually.
Nursing home association facing big debt
The Indiana Health Care Association is looking for a new leader even as it tries to dig out of a pile
of debt. Current President Steve Smith, whose contract expires Nov. 30, says he’s put the organization on a path to be financially stable by 2012. But his predecessor says Smith has ruined a once-strong organization.
Louisiana gets $20M in Lilly drug settlement
Louisiana was one of 13 states that filed individual suits in state courts over allegations that Lilly pushed Zyprexa for
uses that had not been approved by federal regulators.
Members: Anthem health plans subpar
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana fell slightly below average for customer satisfaction among scores of health
plans,
according to a new survey by California-based J.D. Power & Associates.
Medical oxygen plant in Plainfield closing; 130 to lose jobs
Relocating operations to an existing plant in Canton, Ga., will result in the loss of 130 jobs.
Hospitals stand to gain big by hiring docs
To understand why hospitals are so eager to employ physicians—and prevent them from owning their own facilities—look
no further than the latest data on how much doctors are paid compared with how much revenue they generate for hospitals.
Shareholder group wants WellPoint to become not-for-profit
Proposal at annual meeting will ask health insurer to study feasibility of converting to not-for-profit status.
Conseco trims CEO’s pay but gives exec team raises
James Prieur’s total compensation fell 5 percent last year to $3.3 million, but other Conseco executives saw pay hikes between
25 percent and 54 percent.
IU study suggests that money does matter to doctors
Patients seen at private facilities reimbursed by Medicare were 5-1/2 times more likely to receive routine cataract surgery
than patients at Veterans Affairs facilities, according to a new study.
Lilly wins court ban on generic copy of Gemzar
Eli Lilly and Co. won a U.S. court ruling Wednesday that bars Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. from selling a generic version
of the cancer drug Gemzar until November.
Lilly drug wins U.K. backing as cancer therapy
Eli Lilly and Co.’s Alimta has received the preliminary backing of a United Kingdom agency as a maintenance treatment for
patients with the most common form of lung cancer.