Overdose deaths are down, giving experts hope for enduring decline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report showed Indiana with an even larger decline in overdose deaths than the nation in the 12-month period that ended June 30.
Health Care & Insurance
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IU study: Indiana stands out for reliance on self-insured, high-deductible plans
Hoosiers are 20% more likely to be covered by a self-insured health plan than their peers, a type of plan that “lacks the market power to effectively negotiate prices with hospitals,” the study noted.
Community Health sues Humana to recover $7.3M in payments for drugs to low-income and uninsured
Community Health said Humana intentionally withheld reimbursement for outpatient prescription drugs provided to Humana’s Medicare Advantage members between Jan. 1, 2018, and Dec. 31, 2022.
Cigna confirms it won’t pursue combination with rival Humana
The two health insurance giants, with a combined market value of roughly $125 billion, held talks about a deal last year.
CDC calls for expanded testing for bird flu after blood tests reveal more farmworker infections
The CDC study provides the largest window to date into how the bird virus first detected in March in dairy cows might be spreading to people.
Court dismisses doctor’s suit against IU Health for terminating medical privileges
The Indiana Southern District court affirmed that the vascular surgeo’s claims against the hospital did not constitute a legitimate antitrust case, stating his allegations of breach of contract and defamation were also without merit.
Elevance Health sues feds over ‘arbitrary and capricious’ star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans
At stake are billions of dollars in bonuses that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services awards to insurers that achieve a certain start rating on their Medicare Advantage scores.
OrthoIndy and Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center Combine Orthopedic Practices
Two Indianapolis-based orthopedic medical practices are joining forces, creating a combined operation of more than 100 physicians and 1,200 employees with 22 locations across central Indiana.
UPDATE: Lilly shares tumble on earnings report that falls short of Wall Street expectations
The Indianapolis-based drugmaker missed expectations on sales of two popular drugs, diabetes treatment Mounjaro and weight-loss treatment Zepbound, which it attributed to inventory decreases in the wholesaler channel.
Indiana Hospital Association names longtime health care leader as new president
Scott B. Tittle, a former health care policy adviser to former Gov. Mitch Daniels and nursing home trade association leader, will take the helm of the nonprofit professional trade group on Nov. 25.
New federal agency kickstarts Indiana kidney project with $44M award
Sen. Todd Young visited the 16 Tech innovation district Monday to underscore the work of a young federal agency that wants to shake up the conventional model of funding biomedical research.
Elevance Health laying off 123 workers in California
The Indianapolis-based insurer is making the layoffs just a week after reporting a disappointing third-quarter profit and lowering its full-year earnings guidance.
Zionsville-based health care data company hc1 acquires Accumen
The acquisition of Accumen from New York City-based Arsenal Capital Partners announced this week is the latest in a series of growth moves for hc1, which bills itself as a leader in lab data analysis for health care companies.
People 50 and older should get pneumococcal vaccine, U.S. health officials recommend
U.S. health officials on Wednesday recommended that people 50 and older get a shot against bacteria that can cause pneumonia and other dangerous illnesses. The recommendation was made by a scientific advisory panel and then accepted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decision lowered—from 65—the minimum recommended age for older adults to […]
UK regulator approves Lilly’s new Alzheimer’s drug but government won’t pay for it
Britian’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said more evidence was needed to prove Kisunla’s worth. Lilly says a year’s worth of treatment is $32,000.
Statewide program seeks to address turnover in home and hospice industry
CARE Connect launched last week throughout the state after a pilot in 14 southeast Indiana counties, as well as in some agencies in Marion County.
New Indy Health District aims to make five historic neighborhoods healthier
IU Health is joining forces with other anchor institutions on the northern edge of downtown—including The Children’s Museum, Ivy Tech Community College and Citizens Energy Group—to form what they are calling the Indy Health District.
White House says health insurance needs to fully cover over-counter birth control
Millions of people with private health insurance would be able to pick up over-the-counter methods like condoms, the “morning after” pill and birth control pills for free under a new proposal.
Indiana hospitals struggle with IV fluid shortage following Hurricane Helene
Baxter International, the largest manufacturer of IV fluids nationwide, is still only producing about 60% of its normal supply.
Aspire Indiana Health lands $1M gift from Lilly Endowment for recovery residence program
Progress House, about a mile east of downtown, serves about 300 people a year for substance use disorder.