Lucas Oil lube shop ‘on hold’
Company announced plans in May 2009 for a $2 million lube shop and car wash in Avon. But more than a year later, work hasn’t
started.
Company announced plans in May 2009 for a $2 million lube shop and car wash in Avon. But more than a year later, work hasn’t
started.
Thompson Thrift, based in Terre Haute and Carmel, has started construction on Washington Square Commons, a 9,000-square-foot
retail strip at 10110 E. Washington St., at a major entrance to Washington Square Mall.
One in five medical claims is processed inaccurately by commercial health insurers—and a unit of Indianapolis-based
WellPoint Inc. does even worse—often leaving physicians shortchanged, according to the nation's largest doctor's
group.
The Indianapolis-based Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation is contributing $20 million to support IUPUI’s effort to open
a school of public health.
The Indiana University School of Medicine ranked below average for its output of primary-care physicians,
according to a study published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Roughly one-third, or 34.1 percent, of
physicians minted by the IU med school go into primary care, ranking IU No. 79 out of 141 schools on the list. Some of the
nation's most prestigious medical schools—including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, New York University and the Mayo Clinic—ranked
among the bottom 15 for turning out primary-care docs. To see the full ranking, click here.
Eli Lilly and Co.’s experimental drug Bydureon helped diabetics lower their blood sugar and their
weight—but not any more than the cheap, old diabetes pill metformin. That’s the upshot of clinical trial data
released Tuesday by Indianapolis-based Lilly and its development partners on Bydureon. The once-a-week version of Byetta helped
patients reduce their blood sugar, measured by hemoglobin A1c, by 1.5 percentage points. So did metformin. Patients on Bydureon
lost an average of 4.5 pounds a piece. Patients on metformin lost 4.4 pounds on average. Bydureon did reduce blood sugar more
than Januvia, a medicine made by New Jersey-based Merck & Co. Inc., and roughly the same as Actos, a drug made by Japan-based
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. However, patients lost less weight on Januvia, and actually gained weight on Actos. Lilly is
waiting for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve Bydureon for market.
WellPoint Inc. got some recognition for practicing what it preaches. The National Business Group, a not-for-profit
organization of large employers, named WellPoint one of 66 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles because the company encourages
its workers and families to adopt long-term, healthy habits. Meanwhile, Indianapolis-based WellPoint is developing online
care options to give patients a quicker way to converse with a physician—using online video and chat or using a phone.
In a partnership with Boston-based American Well, WellPoint will launch its online care option in the fall with a network
of primary-care and specialist physicians committed to conducting virtual visits with patients. The online care option will
begin in a few markets and then expand throughout WellPoint’s territories across the country.
Purdue University's Healthcare Technical Assistance Program is hiring 50 professionals to help 2,200
Indiana primary-care doctors adopt electronic records that meet federal standards. Purdue's center, armed with $12 million
in federal stimulus funds, will aid small Indiana practices of 10 or fewer health care providers, community health centers,
federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.
Eight programs at Riley Hospital for Children ranked among the top 30 children's hospitals in the nation
in U.S. News' annual America's Best Children's Hospitals list. The rankings will be released in the August
issue of U.S. News & World Report. Riley ranked third in urology, 14th in pulmonology, 15th in diabetes, 20th
in neonatal care, 22nd in digestive disorders, 29th in cardiology and neurology and 30th in cancer. No other hospitals in
Indiana were named in the rankings. U.S. News based the rankings on each hospital's reputation, outcomes, and
such measures as nursing care, advanced technology, and credentialing.
U.S. regulators may phase in requirements on how much health insurers spend on medical care to avoid pushing plans out of
the market for people who buy their own coverage, WellPoint Inc.’s chief financial officer said Wednesday.
Few escaped the Great Recession unscathed, and unusual circumstances helped some appear as though they did.
One-time events influenced bottom lines of some of the few companies that made more money in 2009.
What recession? Some firms are enjoying explosive growth.
Wellpoint has stuck to the $6-per-share forecast since January even after reporting that first-quarter net income jumped 51
percent, easily topping Wall Street expectations.
The Indianapolis Colts could have seen their pristine image ripped apart if Marvin Harrison's troubles hit him a bit earlier
in his life. Now the team must be careful how they honor one of the team's all-time great receivers in the future.
The now famous housing bubble has been blamed for many of our nation’s problems. In truth, it is the opposite. The
massive private debt, including mortgage debt, was made possible by lax lending practices.
A firm that may have developed a breakthrough yeast for ethanol production has landed new investment and high-octane board
members. Two-year-old Xylogenics Inc. also says it plans to license its first bioengineered yeast later this year.
As a first-year subscriber to an Indianapolis Symphony series, I’ve been transformed. I’m now a raving fan.
As of this writing, the Big Ten has 12 teams, the Big 12 has 10 teams and the Pac-10 has 11 teams.
To spearhead a once-in-a-generation overhaul of local government’s antiquated back-office computer system, Mayor Greg Ballard
has chosen an unprofitable software firm that as recently as March 31 warned investors that debt-refinancing issues could
force it out of business.
Expecting to be burned by greenhouse gas legislation that will make electricity generated from coal costly, Indianapolis Power
& Light is studying whether to buy power from two hydroelectric projects proposed for the Ohio River, near Evansville.
What started with a casual meeting between two Indiana University students in a business class in 2008 has grown into an operation
with projected revenue of $2 million this year. Despite long odds and little capital, Evan Burns and Adrian France launched
a weekly print newspaper at IU last September.
Ron Artest's 20-point performance that helped the L.A. Lakers beat the Boston Celtics for the NBA title has Indiana Pacers
fans asking two questions. What might have been? Is there no justice?