New health plans will cost more later
Consumer-driven health plans will lead to greater medical expenses later because people avoid going to the doctor now.
Health Care & Insurance
Articles
As workers lose jobs, Shelbyville hospital loses money
Because major employers in Shelby County have laid off workers, Major Hospital isn’t getting as much income from employer-based
medical insurance plans.
Indianapolis eye surgeon popularizes new transplant technique
Dr. Francis Price Jr. has brought hundreds of eye surgeons to Indianapolis to train them in how to use
a new cornea transplant technique that has swept the ophthalmology field—DSEK, which stands
for Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty.
Old St. Francis Hospital may become mix of retail, senior apartments, offices
The city of Beech Grove is working on a redevelopment proposal for its St. Francis Hospital campus. Tentative plans call for
a mix of office space, apartments for seniors, and retail space.
St. Francis Hospitals, Anthem disagree over health insurance reimbursements
The St. Francis hospital system and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana are haggling over insurance reimbursement
costs. The original demand of Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc. would have increased reimbursement amounts $80 million
over three years, Rick Rhodes, an Anthem regional vice president, wrote in an Oct. 30 letter to employers covered by Anthem.
The increase would mean $12 million more in out-of-pocket costs to Anthem customers. But St. Francis claims its request for
an increase only brings it in line with what other hospitals are getting.
Hoosiers need greater access to quality health care
Indiana’s economic woes are long standing and may be having an adverse effect on the health of our people,
because Hoosiers can’t consistently gain access to excellent health care.
Pacers, Clarian Health offer free health screenings
On Oct. 31, the Indiana Pacers announced a partnership with Clarian Health to improve health awareness for area residents.
Study says consumerism cuts costs
Consumer-directed health plans really work, at least according to WellPoint Inc., which has made a big push to sell them recently.
OneAmerica well positioned to acquire other insurance companies
OneAmerica Financial Partners Inc. has made no secret of its desire to acquire other companies. Well, if it wants to buy,
it could hardly find a better time.
Winona lacks evidence to prove fraudulent money transfer
The trustee for Winona Memorial Hospital lost in court against the hospital’s former owner earlier this month — but
not without
receiving a bit of vindication from the judge in the case.
WellPoint, St. Francis battle over insurer’s IT problems
A year of computer snafus boiled over Oct. 13 when the St. Francis system declared WellPoint Inc. in breach of its contract
because of habitually late payments.
Rooney’s death spawns uncertainty for struggling insurance company, not-for-profit
After the unexpected death of insurance magnate J. Patrick Rooney, two organizations he led until the day he died are scrambling
to figure out who will lead them into the future.
WellPoint pushes sales force to market life, dental, vision
WellPoint Inc. touts as the company’s biggest strength its dominant market share in its health insurance markets. But now
the officers of the company are working to branch out beyond health insurance. They’re training their sales force
on how to better sell dental, vision and even life and disability insurance–which WellPoint refers to as its specialty group
of products.
Ex-WellPoint VP sues, says he was axed for testifying in drug case
WellPoint Inc. prides itself on working to hold down the rising cost of health care. But to hear one of its former vice
presidents tell it, the company retaliated against him when he worked to do just that. In a lawsuit against
WellPoint, Dr. Randy Axelrod claims his former employer forced him out when he tried to curtail a drugmaker’s
controversial pricing strategy that was costing WellPoint money.
WellPoint expected to look for growth overseas
WellPoint Inc., the most dominant health insurer in the United States, registers as barely a pipsqueak in the rest of the
world. But it’s only a matter of time, say industry experts, before WellPoint plunges into foreign markets to grow sales of
its health benefits and services.
WellPoint 401(k) participants sue over decline in stock price
Angela Braly, Wayne DeVeydt and the rest of the top brass at WellPoint Inc. face wrath over the company’s recent stock swoon
from a new group: ex-employees. Four former WellPoint workers have filed lawsuits against the Indianapolis-based health insurance
giant over the losses its 401(k) retirement plan suffered in March when the company slashed its profit forecast for the year.
Janitors want Lilly, WellPoint to push for better health benefits
Service Employees International Union Local 3 is backing local janitors as they restart contract negotiations April 16 with
five of the largest janitorial contractors in Indianapolis. SEIU now is taking direct aim at Lilly, health insurer WellPoint
Inc. and even some local hospitals, hoping they will pressure the janitorial contractors to come to terms.
Anthem increases its hold on Indiana
Anthem Insurance Co. added nearly 75,000 commercial customers last year, pushing its total up more than 4 percent. Anthem,
a subsidiary of Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc., now claims a whopping 1.8 million commercial customers in the state. The
trouble is, Anthem’s dominance limits price competition, according to benefits brokers, making it hard for local HMOs such
as M-Plan or even some national players to compete.
Rooney: healer or heretic in health insurance industry?
The “father of health savings accounts” isn’t satisfied. At 80, J. Patrick Rooney is gearing up for another health care reform
battle in Washington–five years after winning a colossal victory when Congress awarded health savings accounts tax-free status.
Taurel helped Lilly weather Prozac defeat, but he also stumbled
When Eli Lilly and Co. CEO Sidney Taurel announced his retirement Dec. 18, he said he was leaving the company in good shape.
And he can cite plenty of evidence to support him. But when Taurel steps down as CEO March 31, he also will leave a legacy
of a languishing stock price and some costly mistakes that some think could have been avoided. “The facts are the facts; I
guess you can’t ignore it. The stock price has been…