WellPoint profits rise, beat analysts’ expectations
The Indianapolis-based health insurer was helped in first quarter by a mild flu season, but it now expects to lose nearly
700,000 customers by year end.
Health Care & Life Sciences
Articles
Reform to accelerate health care costs
Medicare actuary Richard Foster estimated the new law would raise overall health care spending by an additional $311 million
over current law—more than when he first examined the legislation in December.
WellPoint to adhere to new rescission rules early
The Indianapolis-based health insurer announced Tuesday afternoon it will be the first company to adopt stricter standards
on canceling
policies, which are contained in the health reform bill passed in March.
Chao exit hurts drug development industry
Purdue University’s decision to close the Chao Center in West Lafayette is a setback for Indiana’s effort to grow
a vibrant contract drug manufacturing sector. But it’s just the latest in a series of unexpected changes—not all for
the worse—since Indianapolis-based BioCrossroads launched a contract drug manufacturing initiative in late 2007.
Judge rejects Guidant’s defibrillator plea deal
A federal judge has rejected Guidant Corp.'s guilty plea to charges it hid defects in heart defibrillators, after some
doctors and patients complained about the $296 million deal.
Purdue drug maker closing its doors after 5 years
The Purdue Research Foundation says the Chao Center for Industrial Pharmacy and Contract Manufacturing was unable to become
self-sustaining in part because of the recession.
WellPoint gets lashing from Sebelius, again
Indianapolis-based health insurer trades jabs with U.S. health secretary after Reuters story claims insurer deliberately cancels
coverage for breast cancer patients.
Medicare Advantage may survive cuts under health reform
The two largest U.S. health insurance companies, UnitedHealth, based in Minnetonka, Minn., and WellPoint Inc., based in Indianapolis,
sell Advantage plans.
Anthem Blue Cross postponing rate hike again
In January, Anthem Blue Cross notified many individual policyholders that their rates would rise as much as 39 percent March
1. After a public outcry, the company announced a two-month delay. Now that is on hold, too.
New helicopters coming for Indiana medical flights
Clarian Health officials on Thursday plan to buy four helicopters as it replaces aircraft in its aging patient-transport
fleet.
Harlan Labs names new CEO
The Indianapolis-based provider of clinical research animals has promoted senior manager Hans Thunem to its top spot.
Medical device startup FlowCo enlists Guidant alums
The upstart developer of a device to help doctors choose the right-sized stent to prop open clog-prone arteries has brought
aboard former Guidant Corp. executives, including Bill McConnell. Their regulatory and marketing expertise could help FlowCo Inc. bring its artery-measurement
product to market as soon as 2011.
Clarian hospital system regains its appetite to build
Clarian is planning to spend $1.7 billion in the next five years on capital projects, half of that going to its downtown Indianapolis
campuses.
Indy anti-diabetes experiment takes off
UnitedHealthcare believes a program tested in the Indianapolis area will help it save money on claims.
Democrats want government approval of health premiums
Insurers like WellPoint Inc. should be required to get U.S. approval to increase premiums, Sens. Diane Feinstein and Tom Harkin
say.
Drug prices rise ahead of rebates
Drug prices rose faster last year than they have in a decade—just in time for big rebates the drug industry promised
as part of the health reform law.
Health care tech firm Gemms adding 69 jobs
Carmel-based electronic medical records developer Gemms Inc. plans to invest $2.1 million to expand its headquarters and software
development operations here, more than doubling its staff in the next five years.
Shareholders fail to remove Lilly’s anti-takeover provision
The proposal to remove an 80-percent approval threshold for takeover bids against the wishes of Lilly’s board received
approval from shareholders holding 74 percent of Lilly’s shares.
Lilly to pay $400M to repurchase Cymbalta rights
Eli Lilly and Co. will repurchase rights to develop and market antidepressant Cymbalta outside the U.S. and Japan from European
partner Boehringer Ingelheim for an initial payment of $400 million.
Shares fall after Lilly earnings report
Lilly shareholders are set to gather Monday in Indianapolis to hear an update on the company’s performance, including
how it will keep paying its generous dividend during the lean years after Zyprexa’s patent expiration.