The government has erected a high fence around a pot of $27 billion available to doctors and hospitals that successfully
computerize their patient records by next year, sparking complaints.
The federal stimulus programs are based largely on borrowing, not on taxation.
A proposed high-speed commuter rail line that would run through northern Indiana was left out of federal stimulus
grants announced this week.
The Justice Department imposed major conditions upon Live Nation and Ticketmaster in approving the companies’ merger, moves
that
Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney said would have the effect of lowering ticket prices.
A consumer group opposing Senate Bill 115 argues the measure is yet another concession to the developer of a coal-to-methane
plant proposed in Rockport.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Indiana Department of Child Services from cutting state subsidies to foster and
adoptive parents and residential treatment centers that help provide for children.
U.S. stocks sank again Friday, extending the market’s biggest three-day tumble since March, as financial shares slumped on
President Obama’s plan to rein in banks.
The State of the State address delivered by Gov. Mitch Daniels Jan. 19 contained no surprises at all, except, perhaps in
his optimism.
Idea for old terminal calls for more deliberative planning of development in and around Indianapolis International to make
airport more of an economic development hub.
Six groups are vying to lead a redevelopment effort for the struggling Indianapolis City Market. Check out summaries of each
of the proposals.
City Market’s board president warns financing will challenge any of the six groups that responded to Mayor Greg Ballard’s
request for business ideas.
St. Francis and Westview hospitals are open to hosting the osteopathic-medicine school proposed by the Indianapolis Catholic
institution.
The organization with the most votes from Facebook users will receive $1 million.
Roche Diagnostics Corp. named a new CEO Tuesday for its North American operations, which are headquartered
in Indianapolis. Jack Phillips, currently head of commercial operations for North America and Japan at Roche subsidiary Ventana
Medical Systems, takes the reins from Michael Tillmann, who resigned on Friday. Tillmann had been in the job 18 months, but
Roche continued to lose market share in its diabetes business. Phillips is the third North American CEO for Roche Diagnostics
in less than two years.
Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar requested Indiana’s attorney general to conduct
a legal analysis of the Senate health insurance proposal, according to the Associated Press. Attorney General Greg Zoeller
will examine the constitutionality of parts of the federal health care bill, including the so-called Nebraska compromise that
would give Nebraska funding for expanded Medicaid obligations. Indiana law gives the attorney general authority to review
proposed federal legislation for any of the state’s U.S. senators or representatives. Zoeller said he’ll provide a report
to Indiana’s congressional delegation by the time Congress starts House-Senate conference committee negotiations.
The long-term impact of health care reform is uncertain, but many analysts are expecting big health insurers like Indianapolis-based
WellPoint Inc. to benefit in 2010, according to the Associated Press. WellPoint, which insures more Americans
than any of its peers, has seen its stock price surge 10 percent in 2010. "As the health care reform
debate diminishes, we believe investors will continue their recent return to managed care stocks
in the first half of 2010 with a large-cap bias," Thomas Carroll, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus
& Co., told investors.
Witham Health Services wants Boone County officials
to support a $35 million bond issue that the Lebanon-based hospital said could save it millions in interest
payments. Witham wants to use about $21 million to refinance a 95,000-square-foot medical office building in Lebanon
that it opened in September. Interest rates on bonds are lower now than when Witham began that project in mid-2007. Witham
would use the rest of the money, about $15 million, to purchase land in the Anson development near Zionsville, on which Witham
opened a free-standing emergency room in October. The 43,000-square-foot structure features cutting-edge imaging equipment
for open-sided magnetic-resonance imaging exams and high-resolution CT scans. It also includes office space for family and
specialist physicians.
The City of Evansville hired Maryland-based Meritain Health to manage its self-funded insurance
plan. The new city health plan will feature the Welborn Health Plan’s Dual Option Product, which gives members access
to both Deaconess and St. Mary’s hospitals, instead of only one as before. Meritain Health administers health plans
for more than 80,000 members in the greater Evansville tri-state area.
The owner of the Riley Towers apartment complex is preparing to develop a 54-unit extension of the landmark
downtown property.
Forrest Lucas has hired lawyers to help the Concerned Citizens of Crawford County in their opposition to a proposed wood-burning
power plant near Milltown in southern Indiana.
Indianapolis water customers can weigh in on a planned water rate hike at public hearing Monday night. In September, the Department of Waterworks proposed a 35-percent rate hike to pay for a $110 million upgrade to the city’s drinking water system. If approved, the rate increase would drive up residential water bills by an average of $6 a month. The hearing is set for 6 p.m. in the Broad Ripple High School auditorium.
Sen. Mike Delph of Carmel says his proposal would require state agencies to check the citizenship of new employees and residents
applying for unemployment benefits using an online verification system.
People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals made the $7,500 offer in a letter to Mayor Greg Ballard after the chain made
a deal to help pay for fire extinguishers and smoke detectors.
Proposed legislation that would allow Indiana voters to cast absentee ballots by mail without having an excuse such as being
out of town on Election Day cleared the Democrat-controlled House elections committee, but it could face hurdles in the Republican-led
Senate.
