Trump’s nominee to run Medicare, Medicaid advances
Indiana health care consultant Seema Verma was approved by the Finance Committee on a 13-12 party-line vote.
Health Care
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Dealing with my cancer: Surgery, a tough recovery, and the magic words
Just when I thought getting through chemo was a tough challenge, I faced another—six days in the hospital to remove and replace my cancerous bladder. I hope the lessons I learned will make me a better journalist.
Drug companies willing to spend big in pursuit of Alzheimer’s cure
Alzheimer’s disease is rewriting the rules of drug discovery, with companies like Eli Lilly and others abandoning caution to keep pursuing an elusive hypothesis because the potential payoff is so great.
MDwise to exit Hoosier Care Connect program, cut 80 workers
MDwise said it could not reach an agreement with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning over payment rates for the Hoosier Care Connect program.
High-tech compression garment maker lands FDA clearance
Fishers-based Recovery Force LLC took a big step this month toward its goal of bringing to market a wrap that’s designed to improve blood flow and enhance recovery for people battling serious health issues.
Report: White House nixed CMS hire over IBJ column critical of Trump
Politico has reported that the Trump White House was not impressed with a 2016 column in which local Republican strategist Marcus Barlow said Trump was “offensive and ignorant” but not a racist.
Riverview embraces health care free-for-all
The county-owned hospital system has more than $100 million in ongoing projects, making it one of the biggest eras of growth in the history of Riverview, which opened its Noblesville hospital in 1951.
State lawmakers send abortion bill goes back to committee
Indiana House Republicans are taking the unusual step of reassigning an abortion bill to the same panel that narrowly approved it last week.
As pricing criticism mounts, Lilly, other drugmakers roll out pay for performance
In Lilly’s partnership with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, the not-for-profit insurer gets additional rebates if fewer patients using Lilly's diabetes treatment Trulicity meet blood sugar goals than expected.
Trump health pick from Indiana says Medicaid needs major overhaul
Indiana health care consulting executive Seema Verma on Thursday testified before the Senate Finance Committee on her nomination to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS.
Judge blocks Cigna from scuttling $48 billion deal with Anthem
Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc. on Wednesday won a court ruling blocking Cigna Corp. from terminating a proposed merger between the health insurers until a judge could weigh arguments over the faltering deal at an April 10 hearing.
Merck stops Alzheimer’s study after ‘no chance’ of benefit
Merck & Co. on Tuesday announced that it will end a study of its once-promising Alzheimer’s disease drug in patients with mild-to-moderate forms of the condition, just three months after Eli Lilly and Co. announced its own setback in a field that’s been littered with failures.
Valentine’s Day insurance breakups could mean massacre for ACA exchanges
The collapse of one potential mega-merger and the uncertain future of the other could hurt shoppers on the Affordable Care Act exchanges next year by leaving them with even fewer options and potentially higher prices.
Pick for Medicare post faces questions on Indiana contracts
A review by The Associated Press found Seema Verma and her small Indianapolis-based firm made millions through consulting agreements with at least nine states while also working under contract for Hewlett Packard.
Indy-founded drug firm lands nearly $23M to fight rare disease
Two local men who have been working on a potential blockbuster treatment for a rare and debilitating disease are hopeful that a major injection of venture capital will provide the boost needed to move the drug to market—even if it means sweeping changes for their company.
After megadeals blocked, health insurers plotting next moves
Anthem filed a notice of appeal on Thursday after a federal judge blocked its $48 billion deal to buy Cigna Corp.
Dying patients have Pence’s backing on ‘right to try’ policy
Vice President Mike Pence may have just picked another fight with pharmaceutical companies—one that doesn’t involve drug prices.
Anthem vows to appeal ruling blocking $48B Cigna purchase
While Anthem said it was “significantly disappointed” by the judge’s order and would seek an expedited appeal, Cigna said only that it “intends to carefully review the opinion and evaluate its options in accordance with the merger agreement.”
Anthem’s $48B bid for Cigna blocked by judge as anticompetitive
The deal, along with Aetna Inc.’s proposed tie-up with Humana Inc., which was blocked last month, was set to reduce the ranks of big U.S. health insurers to three from five and make Anthem the largest by membership.
Local health care facility with 87 employees shutting down
The closure of an Indianapolis residential care facility is expected to result in the loss of 87 jobs, but some of the workers might be able to land employment at the same company.