New psych hospital in Indy marks break with ‘failing model’
The Pence administration’s decision to spend $120 million on a new psychiatric hospital represents a stark shift from the state’s approach to mental health of the past 30 years.
Health Care & Life Sciences
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Obamacare sign-up deadline extended by two days
As the Affordable Care Act enters its third year with enrollment well behind schedule, procrastinators are critical to its economic viability.
Autism likelier when antidepressants taken during pregnancy
A new study says women who took a common class of antidepressants during the second and third trimesters were more than twice as likely than other women to have children who later developed autism.
Lawmakers offer alternative to cold medicine sales crackdown
Two Indiana lawmakers have unveiled a proposal that they say will curb illegal sales of a common cold medicine used to make methamphetamine but would not penalize sick people by requiring prescriptions for the drug.
Nursing homes work to ‘rebalance’ Medicaid spending without managed care
State government has long wanted to shift spending on long-term care from nursing homes to home- and community-based care. Now Gov. Mike Pence’s administration is working with nursing homes to make that happen.
DuPont CEO in position to decide fate of Dow Agro
The Dow Chemical-DuPont merger throws into doubt what will happen to the 1,500 people who work at Dow AgroSciences’ Indianapolis headquarters, especially since executives plan $1.3 billion in savings from combining ag units.
Startup for therapeutic gear raises $3M on way to market
Fishers-based Recovery Force LLC, which develops high-tech compression wearables for medical patients, athletes and military members, is working toward FDA approval.
Dow, DuPont agree to combine in historic merger of equals
Dow and DuPont plan to divide the combined company into three publicly traded businesses, one of which would focus on agricultural products including herbicides and genetically modified seeds—the core business of Dow's Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences unit. DuPont also has a large ag unit.
Deals could bring back fired American Senior CEO
Jim Burkhart, who was fired this fall after the FBI raided his home and American Senior Communities' offices, holds agreements under which he could acquire 63 nursing homes managed by his former employer.
Obamacare is growing employer health benefits, not just killing them
Even though some Indianapolis-area employers are dropping their group health plans, others are adding them. Overall, more workers are being offered health insurance by their employers under Obamacare than before the law took effect.
Lilly’s latest dividend increase carries on long tradition
Until impending patent expirations spurred the company to forgo a dividend increase in 2010, the company had announced dividend increases for 42 consecutive years.
Anthem gives CEO Swedish added title of chairman
Anthem Inc.'s board has named CEO Joseph R. Swedish as chairman, consolidating leadership roles that were once an impediment to its planned $48 billion combination with rival health insurer Cigna Corp.
Prosecutors to seek ban on over-the-counter pseudoephedrine
Prosecutors urged Indiana legislators Wednesday to ban over-the-counter sales of a common cold medicine used to make methamphetamine and to stiffen sentences for convicted drug dealers.
Lilly separating manufacturing of animal health drugs
Eli Lilly and Co. is in the process of separating the manufacturing of its animal health drugs from the facilities used to make its traditional pharmaceuticals, a move that potentially could make it easier to spin off the division one day.
Survey: Prescription drug abuse hits many Indiana companies
The majority of Indiana companies that responded to a survey say their businesses are being affected by workplace abuse or misuse of prescription medication.
Despite stronger economy, insurers keep up pressure on hospitals, doctors
Anthem touts program saving $9.51 per patient per month—but passes on less than half the savings to hospitals and doctors.
Eli Lilly ends development of promising insulin drug
Eli Lilly said Friday that it decided to stop developing the insulin peglispro after learning that it would take more time and cost more than expected to understand a significant side effect.
All of a sudden, HIP 2.0 has a cloudy future
Gov. Mike Pence’s expanded version of the Healthy Indiana Plan looked secure after winning approval from the Obama administration in January. But now it faces threats from both liberals and conservatives.
Investors betting no on Anthem mega-deal
Lots of investors are betting health insurance giants Anthem Inc. and Cigna Corp. won’t ever make it to the altar—an outlook driven by concerns antitrust regulators or other obstacles will prevent consummating the $45 billion deal.
Pence objects to new federal review of HIP program
Gov. Mike Pence fired off a letter to the Obama administration on Thursday asking it to cancel its contract with what he described as biased contractors recently hired to evaluate the Healthy Indiana Plan.