Employers, workers brace for another round of health premium increases
The National Business Group on Health is projecting the total cost of providing medical and pharmacy benefits to increase 5 percent for the fifth consecutive year in 2018.
Employee Benefits
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Health advocates gain favor to help employees navigate health care complexities
Employers began hiring health advocates in earnest nationwide about four years ago, fueled by implementation of the Affordable Care Act and growing public awareness that provider rates and quality can differ greatly.
Medicaid cuts spell trouble for home health firms
The state’s Family and Social Services Administration is set to cut home health care Medicaid reimbursements for licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, aides, therapists and pathologists.
Anthem slaps lawsuit on Express Scripts over drug pricing
The insurer’s CEO said in January that Anthem should be reaping an addition $3 billion per year in savings on drugs from Express Scripts, which manages its pharmacy benefits.
Netflix to give workers with babies a year of paid leave
Netflix is giving new parents on its payroll up to a year of paid leave in a move that could pressure other technology employers to improve their baby benefits as they vie for talent.
Indy-based health data firm snares $1.5M in VC round
Healthiest Employers LLC, which collects and measures corporate health information, plans to use the funds to drive sales of its analytics software.
Firm looks to bulk up on fat-reduction results
Wellness company On Target Health LLC, which one year ago launched a program to help overweight workers lose fat but not muscle, is seeing strong results from its first two clients.
Hillenbrand sees rare progress in controlling workers’ weight
Hillenbrand is making headway at a time when most corporations reap little improvement for their investment in wellness programs.
Employer clinics are latest health care disruption
The clinics could rearrange the system by forcing price quotes and demanding that providers follow-through.
Health Care & Benefits Power Breakfast transcript
Indianapolis Business Journal gathered leaders in the state's health care and benefits sector for a Power Breakfast panel discussion Sept. 26. The panel discussed disruption of employer clinics, health care spending and more.
IU Health to bypass Indy next year on Obamacare exchange
IU Health Plans, the insurance arm of the Indianapolis-based hospital system, is limiting itself to three middle-size markets next year—Bloomington, Lafayette and Muncie—even though the bulk of its facilities is in the metro area.
Online insurance brokerage sets sights on Indiana
Obamacare could, according to some health insurance experts, cause most small businesses to end their group health plans. Now a new venture-backed company opening up shop in Indiana is trying to make that prediction a reality.
Employers scramble to deal with same-sex marriage
Nine out of 10 Hoosier employers do not offer benefits to same-sex partners, meaning many might need to change their policies after a federal judge on Wednesday declared same-sex marriage legal in Indiana.
Fishers health analytics firm to expand, add workers
Healthiest Employers LLC plans to move software development to its Fishers headquarters in an expansion that will add up to 90 jobs by 2017.
Temporary jobs on rise in today’s shifting economy
Part-time and contract jobs in the past tended to rise during recessions and recede during recoveries. But maybe no longer: Part-time workers have accounted for more than 10 percent of U.S. job growth since the recession officially ended in June 2009.
Tech firms dangle amenities to lure sought-after workers
Industry goliaths in Silicon Valley have thrown lavish perks at employees for years. As employment in Indianapolis tech firms has skyrocketed in recent years, a lot more companies are looking for workers, heating up competition.
Survey: One-third of Hoosier workers in high-deductible plans
An annual survey by the benefits consulting firm Mercer found that, among 75 Hoosier employers, 34 percent of workers are already enrolled in consumer-directed health plans. And that number is only going to go up due to new Obamacare rules.
Obama allows customers to keep canceled policies
Bowing to pressure, President Barack Obama on Thursday announced changes to his health care law to give insurance companies the option to keep offering consumers plans that would otherwise be canceled.
Franciscan hospitals to eliminate 925 full-time positions
The Indiana-based system that operates three hospitals in the Indianapolis area said it is trying to cut its expenses by as much as $500 million, or 20 percent.
Clinic operator Novia to be purchased by Wisconsin firm
Indianapolis-based Novia CareClinics LLC was a pioneer in operating primary care clinics for employers. In 2012, Novia had 175 employees and more than $15 million in revenue.