The latest idea from Dr. James Spahn, an Indianapolis health care entrepreneur, should help hospitals and nursing homes do
a better job of preventing severe bedsores, or pressure ulcers. That’s good, because Medicare and private health insurers
increasingly won’t pay to treat them.
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 federal government is currently doling out $1.1 billion in stimulus funds to pay for research that compares multiple medical
treatments against one another to determine which is most effective. Drug companies like Eli Lilly and Co. are wary that comparative-effectiveness
research could threaten their sales.
WellPoint Inc.'s announcement of comparative effectiveness research guidelines last week marks a new era for U.S. drugmakers.
The Indianapolis-based health insurer will use studies that compare the effectiveness of one drug against another as a complement
to typical clinical trial research that compares a drug against a placebo sugar pill.
The estimate released Friday from an outside actuary hired by the state is lower than the actuary’s “worst case scenario”
given two weeks ago.
Companies in the health care supply chain need to engage in more strategic, long-term preparation even as the industry faces
uncertainties and upheaval, MIT expert tells local conference attendees.
The price increase was fueled by the debate over the health-care overhaul in Washington, D.C., Medco Health Solutions Inc. CEO David Snow said.
As physician mergers increase in Indianapolis, a new study has determined that quality at large, multispecialty practices is at
least 5 percent higher and costs are 3.6 percent lower than at small group practices.
The lawsuit filed this week in Marion Superior Court claims Clarian Health charges uninsured patients—or those receiving
treatments not covered by their insurance—unreasonably high prices.
There has been a noticeable uptick in the level of health care real estate development activity this year.
Medicare actuary Richard Foster estimated the new law would raise overall health care spending by an additional $311 million
over current law—more than when he first examined the legislation in December.
In January, Anthem Blue Cross notified many individual policyholders that their rates would rise as much as 39 percent March
1. After a public outcry, the company announced a two-month delay. Now that is on hold, too.
Not-for-profit sees increasing numbers of patients, but can't plug the entire gap to be created by health care retirements.
The Indianapolis-based health insurer has more individual and small-business customers than its major competitors, increasing
the impact of health reform.
State attorney general says the federal health care law raises serious constitutional questions, including whether Congress
has the authority to enact a mandate that most Americans purchase health insurance.
With one of the nation’s largest tanning-bed manufacturers and dozens of salons in central Indiana, a 10-percent tax on tanning
could cost the region jobs.
Daniels told members of the Economic Club of Indianapolis that it’s ridiculous for anyone to suggest the nearly $1 trillion
health care overhaul signed into law Tuesday by President Barack Obama won’t add to the nation’s debt.
Sweeping changes phase in slowly for most, but insurers, hospitals, drug companies, employers, workers, medical device makers
and more will eventually feel impact.
Drugmakers and insurers could gain millions of customers under the legislation, but the industry also will pay new fees and
face stricter rules that may shrink profit and fuel mergers.
To pay for the changes, the legislation includes more than $400 billion in higher taxes over a decade, roughly half of it
from a new Medicare payroll tax on individuals with incomes over $200,000 and couples over $250,000.
