There is too much money in unhealthy behavior
I spell out the top 5 reasons, starting with Hoosiers’ poor health, why health care in Indiana is even more messed up than it is around the rest of the country.
Health Care Costs
Articles
Indy firm hits growth stride with benefits software
Indianapolis-based Healthiest Employer LLC expects its Springbuk software for managing wellness programs to triple its clients, revenue and employees this year.
First-of-a-kind drug approvals continued rise in 2015
The rising figures reflect an industry-wide focus on drugs for rare and hard-to-treat diseases, which often come with streamlined reviews, extra patent protections and higher price tags.
Moms in Indy pay 50 percent more for C-sections than in Manhattan
Despite its low cost of living, Indianapolis is among the highest-priced areas for hospital services for patients with private health insurance—and is far more costly than Boston, Chicago, Manhattan and Los Angeles, according to a new study.
Nursing homes work to ‘rebalance’ Medicaid spending without managed care
State government has long wanted to shift spending on long-term care from nursing homes to home- and community-based care. Now Gov. Mike Pence’s administration is working with nursing homes to make that happen.
Obamacare is growing employer health benefits, not just killing them
Even though some Indianapolis-area employers are dropping their group health plans, others are adding them. Overall, more workers are being offered health insurance by their employers under Obamacare than before the law took effect.
Despite stronger economy, insurers keep up pressure on hospitals, doctors
Anthem touts program saving $9.51 per patient per month—but passes on less than half the savings to hospitals and doctors.
Midwest employers are actually spending less on health benefits
New data show that employers trying to duck the Obamacare Cadillac tax and turn their workers into healthier consumers are starting to actually reduce the amount of money per worker they are spending on health benefits.
Indy lawyers lead D.C. coalition chipping away at health care regulations
With regulations on the rise and 25 percent of health care spending going toward administration, lawyers at Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman are taking aim at some of the most pain-inducing pieces of federal anti-kickback statutes.
Advantage CEO exits after un-reported losses come to light
Vicki Perry, the longtime CEO of Advantage Health Solutions Inc., has been replaced after a financial review found “significant un-reported losses” at the Indianapolis-based health insurer.
Covering the uninsured brings only a small benefit for the insured
Hospitals have long argued that they pass on the cost of the uninsured to private insurance customers. But a new study shows that’s less than half-true.
When it comes to health benefits, Hoosier employers are cheap
Lower wages, higher hospital prices and unhealthy lives force Indiana employers to charge more and give fewer health benefits to their workers.
Sticker shock hits insurance customers of Obamacare exchange
The prices health insurers charge Hoosiers on the Obamacare exchange will drop more than in any other state next year. But for most Hoosiers, that’s bad news. Lower average premiums statewide means smaller tax subsidies statewide to reduce the cost of Obamacare policies.
Lilly CEO: Drugmakers getting bum rap
Eli Lilly and Co. CEO John Lechleiter told Wall Street analysts recently that, while there have been “individual huge drug price increases,” the overall cost of drugs is rising very slowly and remains a small part of overall U.S. health care spending.
Soaring Rx costs lift firm’s prospects, job creation
Rx Help Centers assists employers and customers as they navigate through the confusing web of prescription drug discounts. Business is so good that the company hopes to add 250 workers by 2017.
Spiking drug prices punch holes in health insurers’ finances
Spending on prescription drugs has soared 451 percent this year at Indianapolis-based MDwise as new drugs for hepatitis C and cancer soar above $100,000 per patient.
Go figure: As patients’ anger over costs spikes, health care prices barely budge
Patients’ anger over high deductibles and high drug prices is spurring presidential candidates to respond—even as the actual prices of health care services are growing slower than at any time since 1990.
Novel approach to Alzheimer’s care set for Midwestern rollout
Dr. Malaz Boustani leads a 26-person team at Eskenazi Health that is showing the group's approach to health care can improve the mental health of both dementia patients and their care givers.
Hospital CEO: Telehealth could dampen future health care construction
Bryan Mills, CEO of the Community Health Network hospital system, said a recent pickup in health care construction could slow down if providers can successfully care for patients remotely via the Internet and phones.
GOP wanted consumer-driven health care; Obamacare made it happen.
Since President Obama’s health law passed in 2010, deductibles on employer health plans have risen nearly seven times faster than wages and nearly three times faster than premiums, leaving consumers exposed more than ever to the sky-high cost of care.