Rehab hospital shakes up leadership
The CEO is on his way out and the board has been dissolved at Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, as its owners—Clarian Health and St. Vincent Health—work to pull the hospital closer to their own operations.
Health Care & Insurance
Articles
Rules mostly falling WellPoint’s way
Health insurers won fairly broad leeway under key rules suggested by state insurance commissioners that will govern what kinds of expenses count toward meeting a new federal threshold to spend at least 80 percent of premiums dollars on medical care.
IU gets $4 million grant for new research center
IU will use its Lilly Endowment grant to open its news Center for Law, Ethics and Applied Research in Health Information.
Cook stent could prevent more amputations, study finds
A drug-coated stent from Indiana-based Cook Medical was more effective than standard therapy for patients with blockages in an upper-leg artery, a study found.
Columbus hospital suing FEMA for $17.1 million
Federal lawsuit, which stems from June 2008 flood that caused $167 million in damages and business income losses, alleges FEMA failed to pay the full amount the hospital is owed in federal funding.
Health overhaul’s $264M question weighs down WellPoint
The failure by state regulators to decide how much insurers must spend on patient care is scaring investors from health-plan stocks and complicating insurance company decisions.
IU surgeon gets $2 million for heart pump
IU School of Medicine associate professor Mark Rodefeld will use funding to further develop the pump, intended to combat a congenital heart defect that kills many children in their first year of life.
Lilly discovers social media
Eli Lilly and Co. launched its own blog this month, dubbed LillyPad, to try to start discussions about public policy and corporate social responsibility. The Indianapolis-based drugmaker also launched an accompanying Twitter feed.
Building binge hasn’t crimped hospital profits
Indianapolis-area hospitals spent billions on construction in the past decade and increasingly tried to poach patients from one another’s territories. Yet last year—one of the worst economically in recent history—21 of 26 hospitals still were able to show operating profits.
Medical equipment maker primed to expand in Greenwood
Advantis Medical Inc., a maker of cases and trays for surgical instruments, plans to add more than 100 jobs in Greenwood over the next five years.
State insurance chief Cutter dies
Indiana Insurance Commissioner Carol Cutter passed away Sept. 6 in Indianapolis after a months-long struggle with illness. She was 67. Cutter had been on leave from the department since January.
Community moves to integrate doctors
Community Health now has about 550 physicians, either on its payroll or committed through integration contracts, who have some of their pay hinge on measures of quality and communication. CEO Bryan Mills says the hospital system is looking to add even more.
Bill could make health workers pay for FBI checks
The bill has the potential to affect more than 250,000 Indiana workers in up to 24 categories of licensed professionals, including doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, chiropractors, hypnotists, dietitians and even veterinarians.
VoCare raises $2.2 million for telehealth device
The local startup expects to raise another $1.3 million this year and launch pilots of a new mobile device connecting patients with doctors.
Lilly wins reversal of class action in Zyprexa suit
A U.S. appeals court in New York threw out a September 2008 ruling that said plaintiffs could pursue as a group claims that Zyprexa marketing caused them to pay more for the drug than what it was worth. The plaintiffs were seeking $6.8 billion in damages.
Lab used by Lilly, peers accused of animal cruelty
An investigation found that lab employees kicked, threw, and dragged dogs; lifted rabbits by their ears and puppies by their throats; violently slammed cats into cages; and exposed animals to toxic chemicals.
Lilly investing up to $150M in VC funds
The three venture funds, which will focus on drug development, may be worth a total of $750 million, up to $250 million each, and Lilly will contribute as much as 20 percent of the money.
Poor economy keeping Wishard project costs down
Contractors starving for work are submitting more competitive bids, which so far has led to about $10 million in savings, hospital official says.
Clarian moves to scoop up Morgan
It looks like Clarian may be back to deal-making. The Indianapolis-based hospital system has signed a letter of intent to absorb Morgan Hospital and Medical Center.
Indiana to get share of Botox settlement
Botox maker Allergan Inc. said it would pay $600 million to settle a years-long federal investigation into its marketing of the drug. Indiana will get $636,000 of that money.