AUGUST 24-30, 2009
How do doctors believe the nation should fix its broken health care system? IBJ this week includes a package of interviews with physicians as it continues its in-depth coverage of reform legislation pending in Congress. We also report this week on the crowded field of Democrats who already are lining up to take on Mayor Greg Ballard, even though he is just two years into his first term. In addition, read this week about how Dodson Group bounced back, and worked with lenders and other stakeholders, after discovering hundreds of thousands of dollars were missing from company coffers. On a lighter note, read Lou Harry's reviews of new board games.
Front PageBack to Top
Democrats eager to face Ballard
Several prominent local Democrats are lining up to challenge Republican Mayor Greg Ballard just two years into his first
term.
Docs offer varied cures for ailing health care system
Indianapolis physicians are mixed on the merits of a government-run, "public" health insurance plan. How reforms
might affect their pay is another major concern.
ICVA might take out loan to market city for conventions
The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association is so desperate for more marketing funding, the organization charged
with promoting the city as a convention and tourism destination is considering taking out a loan. While that
would be the last resort, ICVA CEO Don Welsh said it is one he will have to consider if the money can’t be raised through
local taxes.
Top StoriesBack to Top
My Health Care Manager looks to grow fast
Indianapolis-based startup My Health Care Manager has signed an agreement with Indianapolis-based
WellPoint Inc. that will eventually put My Health Care Manager’s elder care service in front of the health insurer’s
thousands of employer clients and their workers around the country.
INpact Medical Device Network matches start-ups with service providers
Industry groups in the life sciences, medical and information technology realms have helped lure companies to the region
and foster upstarts. Funding is almost always an issue, but it’s not the only barrier. Getting medical
devices to market often requires product design, development and marketing resources that aren’t
always apparent to upstarts.
Health reform breaking WellPoint’s way so far
With the Obama administration backing away from a government-run, "public" plan, the insurance
industry faces a much smaller threat in the form of privately run insurance co-ops.
Director of Carmel performing arts center says venue will be ‘amazing’
Steven Libman believes he’ll have no trouble raising money for a $3 million operating budget, and says he plans to
pack the calendar with big-name acts.
Biglari consolidates power, as Steak n Shake rebounds
The Texas investor running the chain doesn’t seem like such a champion of transparency these days.
Read MoreDodson Group hit crisis mode after trusted CFO suspected of theft
At first, small-business owner Jim Dodson figured the problem must be a technical glitch. During a routine analysis of
aging unpaid invoices last September, one of his employees couldn’t tie the latest figures to the company’s ledger.
Accounts receivable for his company,
the Dodson Group, had been overstated by $2.7 million—double their true value. And $422,539 was missing from the firm’s
coffers.
Affordable housing developers struggle as key funding source disappears
Affordable
housing developers nationwide are facing a drastically weaker market for tax credits.
FocusBack to Top
Monarch program persuades young, male workers to care about their health
Indianapolis-based Monarch Beverage is among hundreds of central Indiana companies that
have introduced wellness programs to counteract the rising costs of health insurance and Worker’s Compensation.
Businesses help older workers confront Medicare dilemma
Companies are helping workers age 65 and above decide whether to forgo their company health insurance and shift to Medicare.
Medicare is becoming more attractive as costs of company policies rise.
OpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Next ISO conductor should live here
Venzago was essentially an absentee conductor. He didn’t
live here and never seemed fully engaged with the city.
MAURER: My old wrestling rival kept winning
He was a tree trunk of a man who met my glance with a calm, almost disinterested glance—just another day at the office.
Read MoreMARCUS: Happy news is the remedy for reality
The elderly woman sat before me nervously straightening the seams of her dark gray stockings.
Read MoreKANNING: Is our nation following in GM’s footsteps?
Flawed decisions destroy organizations, not company size or lack thereof.
Read MoreMaurer was right: Give people relief
It is time for competent Hoosiers suffering at the end of their lives to have access to all modern medicines
for humane relief.
Maurer’s commentary ‘right on track’
Medical technology has taken us to
the point where we can sustain life almost indefinitely, but not maintain the quality of that life, nor the dignity of the
person.
Vote against ‘cap and trade’
I urge Sen. Evan Bayh to vote against the “cap and trade” legislation pending in the Senate.
Read MoreSKARBECK: For numerous banks, times still troubling
Every Friday after the markets have closed, my e-mail starts getting dinged by the FDIC. That is when the government agency
publicly announces the names of banks that failed during the past week.
HICKS: As classes begin, students have fresh opportunity
Classes start this week at Ball State University, and other colleges and universities across the country. For many, it is
a bittersweet moment, as parents say goodbye to their now young adults, handing them over to professors and scarily youthful
resident hall assistants for safekeeping.
In BriefBack to Top
Marcus Schrenker gets prison sentence
The Indianapolis money manager who crashed his plane and parachuted to safety in an elaborate scheme
to fake his death and flee financial ruin, has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison.
Two local accounting firms among top 100
Katz Sapper & Miller LLP and Blue & Co. LLC are the only two local accounting
firms to crack Inside Public Accounting’s latest top-100 list.
Private colleges group launches search for next chief executive
Independent Colleges of Indiana has launched a national search for its next CEO after Hans Giesecke left
to lead a college in Greece.
MillerWhite signs deal with Shelby County Development Corp.
MillerWhite LLC, an Indianapolis-based marketing and communications firm, recently signed a deal to produce
a new logo, tag line and Web site for the Shelby County Development Corp., a Shelbyville-based economic development organization.
Homeless youth ministry wins promo video
The local video production company Bennett Innovations will donate a $25,000 custom video to Outreach
Inc., a Christian organization that ministers to homeless youth.
Handmade chocolates shop opens location in Chase Tower
Best Chocolate in Town is expanding beyond its original store on Massachusetts Ave.
Read MoreColts take lead in fighting drunk driving
The National Football League and stadium operators are sending a strong anti-drunk-driving message to fans this year as
part of an effort to expand the league’s 1-year-old Fan Code of Conduct program.
AIT Laboratories leaps up Inc.’s list
The Indianapolis-based forensics, clinical and pharmaceutical testing firm now ranks 598, up from 1,466 a year ago. The list
is based on percentage of revenue growth.