Report: WellPoint dominates Indiana markets
WellPoint Inc. holds an overwhelming share of the commercial health insurance market in 13 of Indiana’s 14 largest metros, according to a controversial new study by the American Medical Association.
Health Care & Life Sciences
Articles
Analyst: Lilly solid even without pipeline
While Eli Lilly and Co.’s stock price is up 16 percent in the past four months, a new analyst covering the company thinks it has more room to grow. And that’s even without launching a new Alzheimer’s drug anytime soon.
IU chemist DiMarchi receives science award from Daniels
Richard DiMarchi helped develop the sepsis-treating drug Xigris for Eli Lilly and Co. He also co-founded Marcadia Biotech, which Roche acquired in 2010 for an initial upfront payment of $287 million.
Lilly notifies Canada about NAFTA complaint on Strattera patent
Eli Lilly and Co. notified Canada it plans to file a trade complaint, claiming court decisions invalidating one of the company’s patents breach international obligations.
Cornerstone content with small medical developments
Local firm has carved out niche building for hospitals, physician groups.
Nico raises $6.5 million more from existing investors
Indianapolis-based Nico Corp. wants to use its new round of capital to develop brain surgery products to address diseases that were often considered inoperable, such as metastatic brain cancer and intracerebral hemorrhages.
Illinois company to hire 50 in Indy for Medicaid drug contract
Catamaran Corp. will add 50 jobs in Indianapolis over the next year to help it provide pharmacy-benefit-management services to the Indiana Medicaid program. The Illinois-based company will open an office downtown Tuesday to kick off its six-year, $60 million contract with the state.
About 1 in 10 firms plans to drop coverage
Even as the rising cost of medical benefits has moderated, 11 percent of Indiana employers with 10 or more workers say they will terminate their medical coverage within the next five years, according to the latest survey from the benefits consulting firm Mercer.
Home health agency closes after losing reimbursement
Carmel-based ABC Homecare LLC closed last week after state and federal authorities cut off its access to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement due to deficiencies cited by the Indiana State Department of Health.
Novia opens first multi-employer clinic in downtown Indy
Novia CareClinics LLC, which operates 50 clinics statewide, made its latest clinic open to other employers. Harrison College, Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP and McFarling Foods Inc. have joined.
Cancer treatment firm adding 27 jobs in Indianapolis
A North Carolina-based maker of cancer-fighting ultrasound machines plans to create 27 jobs paying an average of $36 an hour at its Indianapolis facility over the next three years.
Fairbanks gets $1M from United Way for hospital expansion
The $2.5 million expansion will add 7,000 square feet of meeting and office space to Fairbanks’ 86-bed hospital for patients trying to recover from drug and alcohol addictions.
VC funds hope to help early-stage life sciences firms
Early-stage venture capital has been harder and harder to come by for life sciences companies in recent years, but two Indianapolis investors are working to raise sizable funds to help fill the gap.
State health commissioner returning to private sector
Dr. Gregory N. Larkin, appointed commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health by Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2010, will leave his position in January to become medical director of OurHealth, an employer on-site clinic company.
Feds clear WellPoint’s $4.5B acquisition of Amerigroup
The government has dropped its antitrust concerns about health insurer WellPoint Inc.'s proposed acquisition of Amerigroup Corp., the Justice Department said Wednesday, clearing WellPoint to proceed with the $4.46 billion deal.
Lilly chief says China too slow in approving new drugs
China takes eight years longer on average to approve drugs than other major countries, and U.S. drugmakers are looking at ways to help speed things up, Eli Lilly and Co. CEO John Lechleiter said.
Insurance software firm cutting 23 local jobs
Washington-based Vertafore Inc., a developer of insurance software, said it will begin layoffs at its Indianapolis office Jan. 31.
EU reviews cancer drug from Endocyte, Merck
Merck & Co. and Endocyte Inc. said Tuesday that European Union regulators will review their drug vintafolide as a treatment for ovarian cancer.
Medicaid expansion could cost $54M a year
A new set of projections released Monday estimates that expanding Medicaid coverage as called for in President Obama’s 2010 health reform law would cost the state government less than $54 million per year on average over the next decade—far lower than projections issued by the actuarial firm hired by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels’ administration.
Assessment fees benefit Indy hospitals
IU Health and Community enjoyed net gains of $267 million and $23 million, respectively, from the hospital assessment fee program during the fiscal year ended June 30.