The moving target bedeviling attempts to cut health care costs
In health care, 5 percent of patients account for 50 percent of costs. Trouble is, those patients aren’t the same from year to year. Not even close.
Health Care & Life Sciences
Articles
Report: Nearly 43 million Americans have unpaid medical bills
The findings suggest that many Americans are being trapped by debt because they are confused by the notices they get from hospitals and insurance companies about the cost of treatment.
Covance shareholder sues over $6.1B LabCorp deal
A Covance Inc. investor contends in a lawsuit that the drug-testing company’s board erred in relying on what the shareholder called Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s conflict-tainted advice. Covance has major laboratory operations in Indianapolis.
Nearly $50M in state funds sought for medical campus
Officials from three state universities seek almost $50 million in state funding for a planned medical school campus they would share in downtown Evansville. That’s up from the original plan of $35 million.
Lilly rheumatoid arthritis drug meets goals in final-stage trial
If approved, Baricitinib may bring Lilly $673 million in 2020, according to the average of five analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
Hoosier docs, hospitals cut jobs while peers nationally keep hiring
In spite of the divergent trend, Indiana still employs more workers in hospitals and doctors’ offices than the nation as a whole.
Health law adding to primary care doctor shortage
A survey found that 81 percent of doctors say they are over-extended or at full capacity, and 44 percent plan to cut back on the number of patients they see, retire, work part-time or close their practice to new patients.
IU’s proton therapy center closes after 2,079 patients
John Kerstiens, the center's chief operating officer and chief financial officer, said the staff's mood on the final day of the center's operation was fraught with emotion.
Regrets of ending an employer health plan
This spring, Keith Pitzele ended his company’s health plan and sent his workers to the Obamacare exchange. It was a bumpy experience he’s glad he won’t have to repeat next year. Does that mean most employers won’t follow suit?
Three hospitals part of plan to provide Ebola care
Indianapolis hospital leaders have spent the past two months ironing out a plan to deal with any cases of Ebola that emerge in Indiana. The plan is aimed at ensuring effective care while also minimizing the need to bring other hospital services to a virtual halt while patients are under care.
Growth rate for U.S. health tab may have hit bottom
U.S. health care spending grew by the slowest rate in more than a half-century last year, but a speed-up is expected as the economy finally gets traction.
Lilly competitor claims early success with Alzheimer’s drug
Biogen Idec Inc. shares rose Tuesday after the company said its Alzheimer’s drug showed promising early results and will be quickly moved into a final-stage trial.
WellPoint makes switch back to Anthem name
The nation's second-largest health insurance company has officially changed its corporate name from WellPoint Inc. to Anthem Inc. The Indianapolis-based insurer's stock starts trading Wednesday under the ticker symbol ANTM.
Lilly in $440M osteoporosis patch deal with Zosano
Eli Lilly and Co. said Tuesday it will team up with Zosano Pharma Corp. on an experimental osteoporosis patch in a deal that could be worth more than $440 million.
Indiana’s Monroe Hospital files Chapter 11 liquidation plan
About one month after receiving court approval to sell its 32-bed acute-care surgical hospital in Bloomington, Monroe Hospital LLC filed a Chapter 11 plan of liquidation.
Central Indiana hospital cutting nearly 70 jobs
Officials of Marion General Hospital said in a state filing Monday that the 69 layoffs will take place during the first two weeks of February and are expected to be permanent.
Hospitals enjoy third-quarter recovery
After suffering a financial swoon a year ago, Indiana’s hospitals look like they’re back on firmer—though not rock-solid—footing.
Lilly competitor Glaxo to shake up U.S. operations
A major drugmaker that was part of three-way multi-billion-dollar deal this year involving Eli Lilly and Co. is planning a reorganization that will include hundreds of job cuts in the United States.
Three insurers to split $151M in Medicaid contracts
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, MDwise Inc. and Managed Health Services were selected by the state officials to manage health care services for 84,000 Hoosiers that qualify as aged, blind or disabled.
How CNO returned from the brink
CNO Financial Group looks nothing like it did five years ago. CNO stock recently traded around $17.50 a share, led in part by five consecutive years of profit. It has sold or spun off the last of its risky books of business acquired during go-go years, and it’s on the cusp of a significant bond-rating milestone.