House OKs expansion of private care at VA, budget crisis fix
The House voted Wednesday to give veterans more freedom to see doctors outside the Veterans Affairs health system, a major shift aimed at reducing wait times and improving medical care.
Health Care & Insurance
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Trump health secretary: Drugmakers must help cut prices, or else
Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services and a former executive of Eli Lilly and Co., said Monday that the Trump administration plans to turn up the heat on uncooperative pharma firms.
Lilly shareholders reject proposals to lower takeover barriers
Failure to approve the proposals keeps Eli Lilly and Co.’s supermajority-vote requirement for takeovers and staggered board elections intact.
Trump plan for drug prices won’t include direct negotiations
President Donald Trump is set to unveil his long-awaited plan for reducing drug prices after more than a year of bold promises to tackle pharmacy costs that are squeezing millions of Americans.
Anthem’s top drug executive steps down after just two months
Brian Griffin, CEO of Anthem’s start-up drug unit, IngenioRx, is leaving the Indianapolis-based insurer to become CEO of Diplomat Pharmacy in Michigan.
UPDATE: Eli Lilly buying immuno-oncology company for $1.6 billion
The Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant said it plans to acquire ARMO BioSciences Inc., which is working on treatments that activate the immune system of cancer patients to recognize and eradicate tumors.
Health maintenance organization MDwise struggles to find way forward
The not-for-profit that helps low-income Hoosiers get health care coverage and social services lost $60 million in 2016 and cut about 80 jobs last year.
IU organ researcher lands $9M grant to study animal transplants
The money is designed to further the work of Dr. Burcin Ekser and his team, who are working to print three-dimensional pig liver tissue from genetically engineered pig liver cells.
Lilly rolls out its first-ever TV campaign for a cancer drug
The ads for the metastatic breast cancer drug Verzenio show women in their 50s and 60s looking resolute and indomitable, surrounded by smiling friends and family.
Antidote for opioid overdoses often is difficult to obtain
The fact naloxone is a prescription drug creates a hurdle for addicts and their families. In addition, many pharmacies and local health departments don’t stock it, and not everyone can afford it.
Baldwin & Lyons ekes out profit despite higher accident claims
Carmel-based insurer Baldwin & Lyons Inc. saw a big increase in revenue and premiums written in the first quarter, but a jump in accident losses almost wiped out earnings.
Bid of $6.5B for Athenahealth might be ploy to lure other bidders, including Anthem
Shares in Athenahealth Inc. surged the most since 2016 after activist investor Elliott Management Corp. bid to acquire the medical company for $160 a share.
Indiana officials aim to expand drug treatment programs
State officials said Thursday that they plan to fight Indiana’s opioid crisis by increasing capacity of state-sponsored drug treatment, promoting a campaign on reducing the stigma surrounding drug addiction and treatment, and training more health care workers.
Crawfordsville startup CorVus fattens pigs for science
The newly built farm uses a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet to give animals heart disease and diabetes to help medical researchers find treatments.
Major health initiative targets 3 Indianapolis neighborhoods with high diabetes rates
A five-year, $7 million program is led and supported by a coalition of local health institutions, including Eli Lilly and Co., Fairbanks School of Public Health and Eskenazi Health. It is based on a model that Lilly has used in other countries.
New Indiana program addresses maternal opioid crisis
The program at Community Hospital East in Indianapolis will have nearly $600,000 state grant money in place to curb the number of female addicts, whose babies often are addicted to drugs.
Eli Lilly’s next big push likely to come in pain treatments
The Indianapolis-based drugmaker has several pain medications in the pipeline, including potential treatments for migraine headaches, arthritis and chronic back pain.
Private equity firms mull bids for Eli Lilly’s Elanco unit
The Indianapolis pharmaceutical giant is evaluating whether to keep the division, which makes animal-health products, or sell it or take it public. An analyst said it might fetch $16 billion.
Anthem’s earnings jump 30 percent on lower medical expenses
Indianapolis-based insurer Anthem Inc. hiked its 2018 forecast after it topped Wall Street expectations with its first quarter performance.
IU School of Medicine leader finalist for new job in Oregon
Dr. Jay Hess is one of three finalists to become president at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, according to The Oregonian.