Two Indiana hospitals repay feds over $1M each
Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie and Bloomington Hospital were among nine U.S. hospitals that had been charged with submitting
false claims to the Medicare program.
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Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie and Bloomington Hospital were among nine U.S. hospitals that had been charged with submitting
false claims to the Medicare program.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has suspended and reassigned a supervisor on Marion County Prosecutor Carl
Brizzi's security detail who incorrectly reported that a fellow officer—and not Brizzi—was driving a golf
cart that flipped at a 2008 political fundraiser.
The University of Indianapolis chose Anne Thomas, its interim dean of nursing, to hold the position outright.
Thomas, 48, had been a part-time teacher at UIndy’s School of Nursing since 1996 and since 2008 had been its full-time
director of graduate programs. She succeeds Mary McHugh, who was dean of nursing from 2007 to 2009. Thomas did her nursing
training at the University of Texas at Arlington and earned a doctorate in nursing from Texas Woman’s University College
of Nursing.
Mary Conway Benjamin has been appointed practice operations executive for St. Francis Medical Group, which
includes about 75 physicians. Benjamin previously served as director of the medical group’s cardiovascular practices.
She holds an MBA from the University of Indianapolis and a bachelor’s degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine.
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration named Andrew VanZee to oversee the allocation of $10.3
million in federal stimulus funding given in March to Indiana Health Information Technology Inc. The money could be used to
pay for electronic medical record software or to help hospitals set up electronic medical record exchanges.
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. sold off its entire stake of WellPoint Inc. stock in the
first quarter, the firm reported Monday. Buffett’s firm owned more than 1.3 million shares of WellPoint—an Indianapolis-based
health insurer that has more than 432 million shares outstanding. His firm also disposed of its stake of nearly 1.2 million
shares in Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group, another large health insurer. Berkshire Hathaway first invested in WellPoint
in the first quarter of 2007, spending nearly $80 million to acquire nearly 1 million shares. In the three years since, WellPoint
shares have lost 36 percent of their value. The company’s shares closed Monday at $53.52 apiece.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kethleen Sebelius came to Indianapolis Friday to award the Indiana University
School of Medicine an $8.5 million federal grant to renovate a former research floor at Riley Hospital for Children.
The renovations, which are set to be completed in 2012, will enable the hospital to conduct pediatric clinical research trials
by adding 18,500 square feet of bio-storage and laboratory space. “Most drugs and diagnostics are tested in adults—but
children aren’t just little adults,” said Dr. Craig Brater, dean of the IU School of Medicine. The federal grant
is one of 146 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act construction awards, totaling $1 billion, given to build, repair and
renovate scientific research labs and related facilities nationwide.
Bioanalytical Systems Inc. narrowed its losses in its second quarter even though it suffered a 2-percent
drop in revenue. The West Lafayette-based contract research firm reported a $1.2 million loss in the period ended March 31,
compared with a $1.8 million loss reported for the same period last year. Revenue was down $200,000, to $6.9 million. Nearly
half of the loss came from $520,000 in expenses from staff reductions. Bioanalytical recently named Anthony S. Chilton as
president and CEO following the retirement of top executive Richard M. Shepperd earlier this year. Chilton, 53, had been Bioanalytical’s
chief operating officer since 2008.
Construction could begin as early as June 1 on a $225 million hospital in northern Indiana after the Porter County Plan Commission
approved the building plans, the Associated Press reported. Community Health Systems plans to build the five-story,
250-bed hospital at U.S. 6 and State Road 49. Porter hospital officials in Valparaiso say the last step to be completed is
an archaeological and bat survey.
The proposed sites include the Indianapolis Stamping plant on the west side and the former GM Delco Plant 5 in Kokomo.
Dr. Rob Stone wants the giant health insurer to convert to not-for-profit status and put him, an advocate of national health
insurance, on the company’s board.
If Clarian Health CEO Dan Evans were investing in health care real estate, he’d make bets in three new things: smaller,
denser clinics with lots of computer equipment to do telemedicine; medical office buildings populated by physician assistants;
and nursing homes with a strong relationship with a hospital.
Influential investor sold off all 1.3 million shares in the Indianapolis-based health insurer during the first quarter.
A clerk at a west-side Indianapolis gas station is recovering after a man scalded her with hot coffee during a weekend robbery.
Police said the robber brought a cup of coffee to the front counter at the Speedway store at 410 Kentucky Ave. When the clerk
opened the register, the man threw the coffee in her face. The clerk ran away screaming, while an accomplice emptied the register.
The clerk suffered several burns. Police are still looking for the suspects.
A week has passed since a 19-year-old mother secretly delivered a baby girl inside her Indianapolis apartment, but so far,
no infant has been found. Police officers say they have stopped their search until they receive new leads. Last week, detectives
went through a dumpster where the mother said she left the baby, but the baby wasn’t found there. They searched along
Interstate 65 and at a landfill in Clinton County, where they spent six hours looking through the garbage with cadaver dogs.
The mother, Tasha Miller, says she isn’t sure where she left the baby.
Four Carmel High School basketball players charged in an assault investigation were released about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday after
posting bond. After an extensive investigation lasting several months, prosecutors decided to file charges against the four
seniors, who are accused of assaulting underclassmen. The misdemeanor charges were filed Monday against 19-year-old John Scott
Lazkowski, 18-year-old Oscar Falodun, 18-year-old Brandon Hoge and 19-year-old Robert Kitzinger. Meanwhile, during a meeting
Monday night, the Carmel Clay School Board announced three basketball coaches have resigned. Head Coach Mark Galloway resigned,
as well. Fox59 will have more at 4 p.m.
INDOT plans to put a traffic signal on a well-known west-side shortcut from Interstate 465 southbound to I-70 East, a move
stemming from the rebuilding of Sam Jones Expressway.
By moving its start time to 11 a.m., does the Indianapolis 500 play second fiddle to NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600? Is that the
future of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing?
Indiana Rep. Mark Souder announced Tuesday he would resign from Congress, effective Friday, because he had an affair with
a staffer.
Indiana History Center prize package include entry into The Indiana Experience.
The $13 million bond would be used to lower the price of the abandoned plant to help lure a company that is considering
manufacturing solar panels at the site.
Board member William “Bucky” Bush, uncle of former President George W. Bush, appeared OK after a shortened meeting in which
shareholders approved
a “say-on-pay” proposal. Protesters gathered outside WellPoint’s headquarters after the meeting.
A drop in building permits, a gauge of future activity, along with the expiration of a government tax credit for home purchases
suggest the construction gains could fade soon.
Opening week lineup to be announced June 6 for new Carmel concert hall.
Indianapolis Downtown Inc. is launching a new monthly event to encourage more people to live downtown just as real estate
brokers say interest in available homes is picking up.