UnitedHealth to exit all but a few Obamacare states
UnitedHealth Group Inc., the biggest U.S. health insurer, said it expects to lose about $650 million on the Obamacare plans this year.
Health Care & Life Sciences
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New law paves way for Indiana to fully embrace telemedicine
On July 1, Indiana will join 46 states in allowing physicians to write prescriptions after talking to patients on their laptops or smartphones, with no office visit required.
CNO Financial shakes up senior executive team
The Carmel-based company has a hired a president and promoted longtime exec Erik Helding to chief financial officer. The company also announced the departure of its chief business officer.
Insurer UnitedHealth starts pruning ACA exchange business
The nation’s biggest health insurer has decided to stop selling coverage on public insurance exchanges in two states next year and is continuing to evaluate its presence in other markets after reporting steep losses.
Medicare plan on payment for cancer drugs stirs battle
A Medicare proposal to test new ways of paying for chemotherapy and other drugs given in a doctor's office has sparked a furious battle, and cancer doctors are demanding that the Obama administration scrap the experiment.
Transplant surgeon blasts IU Health after exit
Dr. Joseph Tector, who built IU Health’s transplant program into one of the nation’s largest before announcing his departure Friday, is seeking back wages and penalties worth $4.7 million from the hospital system.
IU Health’s top transplant surgeon leaves for Alabama position
Indiana University Health’s Joseph Tector, who built the transplant program into one of the nation’s largest, has resigned after 15 years to take a job at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
Insulin’s surging price turns diabetes staple into luxury good
The three drugmakers that dominate the world diabetes market—Eli Lilly and Co., Novo Nordisk A/S and Sanofi—are introducing improved forms of insulin, with a price tag to match.
Allergan, Pfizer call off proposed record $160B merger
The biggest U.S.-based drugmaker, Pfizer Inc., will stay put thanks to aggressive new Treasury Department rules that succeeded in blocking Pfizer from acquiring rival Allergan and moving to Ireland—on paper—to reduce its tax bill.
Indiana mandates concussion training for public coaches
Starting in July 2017, all coaches for every public school sport offered to students in grades five through 12 must complete a course on how to spot symptoms of concussions.
New state program spending $22M to boost job training
Several central Indiana groups already have received millions of dollars from Skill UP to give students and workers the training they need to fill jobs that are in high demand.
Meth law opens door for fledgling drugmaker
A small manufacturer angling to pick up more business in Indiana makes cold and allergy medicine resistant to being abused by methamphetamine makers.
Purdue research team makes Zika virus breakthrough
The findings could help develop treatments for the mosquito-borne virus, which has swept through 33 countries and has been declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization.
Hospitals try to cut readmissions, avoid steep federal penalties
Across Indiana, 64 hospitals are facing total federal penalties this year estimated at $9.3 million, according to the Indiana Hospital Association. Nationally, hospitals will pay an estimated $420 million.
Riverview Health announces new CEO
Seth Warren, who served a short tenure as CEO of Laconia, New Hampshire-based LRGHealthcare, will replace Pat Fox as head of Noblesville-based Riverview on April 25.
Report: New Obamacare enrollees sicker, costlier to insure
Health insurers gained a sicker, more expensive patient population after the Affordable Care Act expanded coverage in 2014, according to an early look at medical claims.
Riverview plans $36M expansion of Noblesville campus
Hospital executives and local officials have been discussing a potential expansion on the site for months. Initial plans were presented to the Hamilton County Commissioners on Tuesday afternoon.
Time to cheer on the struggling YMCA
The national not-for-profit organization, trying to fight back against high-end gyms and boutique studios, is now a national model for diabetes prevention.
Robin Run completes expansion
Robin Run, managed by Brentwood, Tennessee-based Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, added a three-story building that expands its assisted-living and dementia-care services.
Lilly angles for arthritis blockbuster
Within six months, Eli Lilly and Co. could know whether the Food and Drug Administration has approved its latest drug, baricitinib, a once-a-day tablet for treating rheumatoid arthritis.