Purdue wins $19M federal grant to develop shale-fuel technology
The five-year grant from the National Science Foundation is expected to provide an early boost to Purdue’s new engineering research center.
John Russell
Articles
Tiny hospitals face new requirement: two inpatients a day and two midnights
The new “clarifying guidance” from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services could provide a big challenge to new micro hospitals popping up in central Indiana and nationally.
Bus consultant leads school districts into ditch
At least three Indiana school districts that hired the startup firm True Consultant Service LLC to revamp bus routes ran into major problems when school began this summer, forcing administrators to apologize to parents and reverse course.
Lilly eliminating 3,500 jobs as part of cost-cutting plan
Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co. said the 3,500 jobs represent 8.3 percent of its global workforce. Lilly hopes the cuts will save it $500 million a year.
Novel Cummins power deal will fund wind farm expansion
A virtual-power purchase agreement is a new type of energy contract that allows a large customer to support green-energy projects and hedge electricity prices
Biosciences institute CEO steps down; chief scientist promoted to top spot
David Broecker was founding CEO of the four-year-old Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, which aims to bridge the gap between research universities and industry in life sciences.
Lilly shares rise on surprising news from FDA on arthritis drug
The Indianapolis drugmaker said it will not be required to conduct another expensive, time-consuming clinical trial for the potential blockbuster.
Anthem to hospitals: No more MRIs, CT-scans for outpatients without preapproval
Advanced imaging is a profit center at many hospitals, so the new policy will likely impose a hit on their bottom lines.
Indiana expands program to crack down on ‘doctor shopping’
The program is hailed by health providers for allowing doctors, hospitals and pharmacies to check patients’ electronic health records for substance abuse.
Lilly insulin prices come under microscope
Over the past 20 years, while the price of a gallon of milk climbed 23 percent and the sticker on a Dodge Caravan minivan rose 21 percent, the list price of the insulin Humalog shot up 1,157 percent.
St. Vincent outsources 85 medical transcription jobs to India
Workers who lose their jobs will be eligible for federal assistance in training and education, the Labor Department has ruled.
IU Health chief wraps up statewide tour aimed at improving rapport with employees
In response to an employee survey two years ago that revealed shockingly low morale, IU Health executives respond with 33 town hall meetings over four months.
IU trustees approve design for new, $340M Bloomington hospital
The design features plenty of glass and natural light, along with Indiana limestone and brick highlights. The facility, scheduled to open in 2020, will replace an aging hospital about five miles away.
Medicare ruling casts cloud over miniature-hospital movement
Whether so-called micro-hospitals can succeed financially might depend on whether they can meet Medicare’s definition of a hospital: a medical facility that dedicates the bulk of its services to inpatient care.
Medicare penalizing 62 Indiana hospitals for high readmission rates
The federal government says readmissions are often unnecessary and cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars a year.
Anthem takes harder line on ER visits
Starting Oct. 1, Anthem said, it could deny claims for hundreds of non-emergency diagnosis codes, such as bruises, rashes, minor burns, swimmer’s ear and athlete’s foot.
Kindred hospital to get new name under venture with Community
The transitional care hospital, which has lost money in two of the past three years, will reopen next year as Community Rehabilitation Hospital South.
Community Health takes over a dozen Walgreens area clinics
The move could give Community a huge new stream of business. Thousands of people visit Walgreens stores in the Indianapolis area on a regular basis and about 40 percent of them don’t have primary care doctors.
Flat-fee payment model bypasses traditional health insurance
Without dozens of insurance claims to file and follow up, physicians cut administrative overhead, reduce costs and keep their practices limited to a few hundred patients, rather than a few thousand.
Lilly reports 35 percent profit surge, but says key drug might require new clinical trial
The Indianapolis-based drugmaker warned that a much-anticipated new drug for rheumatoid arthritis might be delayed another 18 months.