Franciscan group picked for model accountable care program
The Indianapolis-based partnership is among 32 in the U.S. chosen for a model program designed to provide more coordinated care for people served by Medicare.
Health Care & Insurance
Articles
Hoosiers like parts of health reform law
As it is in the rest of the country, the 2010 health reform in Indiana continues to be unpopular, unlikely to be repealed and uncertain to put a dent in health spending, according to a poll of Hoosiers released last week by Ball State University.
Franciscan among Medicare’s first accountable care groups
Franciscan Alliance’s Indianapolis-area hospitals, along with more than 700 physicians, have been named one of the nation’s first 32 accountable care organizations.
Panel hears arguments over Indiana abortion funding
A federal agency will reconsider whether Indiana violated federal law when it decided to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.
Independent doctors fear loss of referrals
Independent health care facilities, like Body One Physical Therapy, are seeing referrals from physicians beginning to slacken as more and more doctors become employees of hospitals. The hospitals request that doctors send patients to their in-house physical therapy practices.
Planned Parenthood of Indiana brings on new lobbyists
The new hires could be important following last year’s legislative session, in which state lawmakers passed a law to cut off Medicaid funding to groups that offer abortions.
Express Scripts, WellPoint in contract fight
Pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Inc. said Tuesday it is in the middle of a contract dispute with WellPoint Inc., one of the biggest health insurers in the United States.
Endocyte shares plunge on clinical trial results
Shares of Endocyte Inc. plummeted more than 60 percent Tuesday morning after clinical trial results showed the company’s experimental ovarian cancer drug led to shorter survival times than treatment with a standard cancer drug.
Ball State: Diabetes rising at alarming rate
In 1993, only 3.8 percent of Hoosier adults had full-blown diabetes, compared with 9.8 percent today.
Medical Mutual eyes Indiana for growth
Health insurer expects enrollment in its health plan to grow 30 percent next year, to nearly 21,000. And then it expects growth of another 40 percent.
Lilly shares rise on possibility for Alzheimer’s drug
Eli Lilly and Co. stock rose to a one-month high Tuesday after an analyst said the possible success of the company’s experimental Alzheimer’s drug could double the share price.
Third-quarter profit dips at OneAmerica
OneAmerica earned $15.4 million in the three months ended Sept. 30, down 53 percent from the same quarter a year ago. Most of that difference came from a 17-percent jump in policy benefit payments.
Q&A
Carmel resident David Wasilewski has launched WhatNext, a website that uses algorithms to make it easier for cancer patients to connect with others in similar circumstances. Wasilewski, 39, spent eight years as chief operating officer of the Spanx line of body shapers and did health care consulting before that. In addition to helping patients, he thinks WhatNext can become a way for health care organizations share their expertise with patients in need.
Mills: Health care’s future is partnership
In spite of all the consolidation lately among hospitals, Community Health CEO Bryan Mills says the future of hospital systems will hinge more on partnerships like the one Community struck last week on its rehab hospital.
Brokers’ hopes dashed by feds
The Obama administration on Friday let stand an earlier rule that said brokers’ fees will have to count toward a 15-percent to 20-percent cap on administrative expenses placed on insurance plans by the 2010 health overhaul.
Takeda, Lilly may face thousands of suits over Actos claims
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. and marketing co-partner Eli Lilly and Co. may face as many as 10,000 lawsuits in U.S. courts over allegations that their Actos diabetes drug causes bladder cancer.
WellPoint won’t put brand-name Lipitor on generics list
Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc., the largest U.S. health insurer by enrollment, will favor a copy of the blockbuster cholesterol medication made by Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc., the insurer said.
Failed dental chain lists no assets, $3.6 million debt
A New York dental chain that closed offices in 13 states, including eight in Indiana, without warning late last year lists no assets and liabilities of $3.6 million in a bankruptcy filing.
States suing over health care law collect funding
Federal officials announced Tuesday they are awarding more money to help states carry out President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Seven states that are suing to overturn the landmark law are also on the list for funding.
IU Health reports most serious medical errors
Indiana’s largest and busiest medical system committed 19 preventable errors last year at its hospitals in Indianapolis and other cities, three fewer than in 2009, according to a report released Monday.