Panel delays vote on bill to require prescription for cold meds
A committee heard two hours of testimony Monday on a bill that would make medicine containing pseudoephedrine a schedule III drug. The committee did not vote.
Health Care & Insurance
Articles
St. Vincent hospitals not quite as rich as they seem
St. Vincent Health has been sending roughly $50 million to $70 million every year to its parent company, St. Louis-based Ascension Health, to support other hospitals in Ascension’s 93-hospital network.
View of health rollout improves, but only slightly
Negative perceptions of the health care rollout have eased, a new poll finds. But overall, two-thirds of Americans say things still aren’t going well.
New tiered network trips up IU Health, UnitedHealthcare talks
In spite of offers to strike a short-term extension, UnitedHealthcare and Indiana University Health are still hung up in contract negotiations on one key point: Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare wants to create a multi-tiered network of providers and services that would offer the lowest co-pays and deductibles for favored hospital systems—which IU Health is not.
Lilly said to be willing to pay $3.7B for biotech firm
A newspaper says Eli Lilly and Co. is a leading contender to acquire a Massachusetts-based biotech company with a troubled leukemia drug.
My own Obamacare math says small employers will, indeed, drop coverage
In my financial situation, I could save from 2 percent to 30 percent buying health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges. I suspect a lot of small companies and their workers will see similar results.
Biological drug bill advances to full Senate
The Indiana Senate is set to consider legislation that could give patients access to more options for drug treatments that derive from biological organisms.
Hospital uncertainty prompts 350 job cuts at Hill-Rom
Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. will eliminate about 350 jobs over the next two years as a cost-saving move after the maker of hospital equipment saw its profit grow slower than expected.
Reorganization leaves Methodist Hospital prez without job
Jim Terwilliger had led IU Health’s two flagship hospitals since July 2012, when longtime executive Sam Odle retired. The CEO of Riley Hospital for Children will replace him temporarily.
Indiana board suspends doctor linked to 31 deaths
The Indiana Medical Licensing Board on Wednesday suspended the license of 83-year-old Dr. Frank Campbell, former medical director of the Madison County Community Health Center.
Central Indiana hospitals limit visitors over flu
A swine flu outbreak has prompted several central Indiana hospitals to restrict visitors to protect patients, families and staff from unnecessary potential exposure.
Indiana among WellPoint’s weakest exchange states
Interest in the Obamacare exchanges varies widely across the 14 states in which WellPoint Inc. is selling insurance plans. Indiana is near the bottom of the pile.
Hopelessly divided Congress agrees on one thing: Cutting payments to providers
Congress’ recent willingness to play hardball with providers is driving providers to cautiously embrace concepts—like pay-for-performance and keeping patients out of the hospitals—they have long resisted.
Molendorp retiring as OneAmerica’s CEO
J. Scott Davison, who was named president of OneAmerica in August, will become president and CEO on April 1.
Prescription could be required to buy cold medicine
Over-the-counter medications for common colds and allergies could become more regulated under a Indiana House bill introduced last week.
Obamacare small-biz plan lags as employers stand pat
Greeted by higher premiums, less generous coverage and more paperwork, small businesses are choosing to renew existing health plans rather than buy them through President Barack Obama’s program.
Jilted dental patients get $543K in restitution from state
Nearly 300 former patients of Allcare Dental & Dentures have received refunds of upfront payments they made before the national dental chain abruptly closed multiple Indiana locations in 2011.
OK, I’m convinced: Hospitals actually are transforming
There are clear signs that hospitals nationally, and even here in Indianapolis, are actually starting to make good on their promises to keep patients healthier and out of the hospital.
Many small firms to opt out of health benefits in 2015
Many employers with fewer than 50 workers kept their health plans for 2014, but a growing number say they’ll drop group coverage at the end of this year.
WellPoint raises its 2013 profit forecast
The new forecast roughly matches what Wall Street analysts were already expecting. WellPoint will reveal its actual 2013 financial results on Jan. 29.