Articles

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.

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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.

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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.

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Feds reject Indiana request for health care exemption

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday rejected Indiana's bid for an exemption from federal health care overhaul rules that require insurers selling policies to individuals to essentially dedicate 80 percent of the premiums they collect to medical care.

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Drugmakers, pharmacists at odds

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. recently rejected CVS Caremark’s demands for big price discounts on its insulins, leading CVS to kick Lilly’s insulins off its list of recommended drugs.

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Brokers get hope on commissions

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners passed a resolution Nov. 22 that urges Congress and the Obama administration to exclude benefits brokers’ commissions from the new requirement that insurers spend only 15 percent to 20 percent of the premiums they collect on administration and profits.

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Health insurers push comparison shopping

Indianapolis-based Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare say they’re responding to demands from employers, who are desperate to rein in spiraling health benefits costs and have begun embracing the idea that to do so they must change their workers’ approach to health and health care.

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Decatur Vein Clinic branches out

In little more than a decade, former Conseco director Dr. David Decatur has turned his single-office family practice into a multistate chain of vein clinics. A 14th location is planned.

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UnitedHealth to acquire Medicare insurer XLHealth

UnitedHealth Group Inc. said it will acquire XLHealth Corp., a provider of managed care for chronically ill Medicare members. Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc. had been considering a possible acquisition of the company.

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