WellPoint rate hikes spark protest in Indianapolis
Congressman Andre Carson will make remarks Thursday during a public chastising of Indianapolis-based health insurer for 21-percent rate
hike on individuals.
Health Care & Life Sciences
Articles
WellPoint, insurance commissioner get earful from lawmakers
State House insurance committee chair grills executives about WellPoint’s 21-percent premium increase for individual policyholders
in Indiana.
Lilly settles Arkansas Zyprexa suit for $18.5M
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Tuesday announced an $18.5 million settlement of a lawsuit with Eli Lilly &
Co. over off-label marketing of the anti-psychotic drug Zyprexa.
State lawmakers to probe WellPoint premium hikes
Three WellPoint executives will be on hand Wednesday morning to answer questions about premium increases on its individual
policies, which have risen as high as 39 percent this year.
Pfizer’s Viagra patent partially rejected in Lilly fight
The patent on impotence drug Viagra was partially rejected after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said it wasn’t different
enough from a Chinese herb known as Horny Goat Weed. The patent was key to an infringement suit Pfizer filed in 2002 against
Eli Lilly and Co. over its rival Cialis drug.
Purdue to get $12M to help small health providers
Stimulus funds will help university’s technical assistance service show doctors and nurses in small groups and in medically under-served areas how to adopt medical-records technologies.
WellPoint delays investor meeting to testify on rate flap
The Indianapolis-based insurer, preparing for Congressional testimony on proposed premium increases in California, says its
earnings forecast is now less clear.
WellPoint hits bottom with customers
Even before WellPoint dissatisfied President Obama over its rate increases in California, it wasn’t doing so hot satisfying
its actual customers, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
Q&A: Dr. John Fitzgerald
The Indiana Clinic, launched about a year ago, has signed 412 physicians as employees, and is still working
toward a goal of as many as 1,500 by 2011. The clinic, a joint venture of Clarian Health and the Indiana University
School of Medicine, is headed by Dr. John Fitzgerald. He discussed the progress.
Indiana part of national medical school surge
Marian University’s planned medical school is one of two dozen nationally, but budget cuts are forcing Indiana University to retreat
on enrollment expansion.
Could WellPoint woes breathe life into health reform?
The firestorm created this week by Indianapolis-based health insurer WellPoint’s spike in premiums could resurrect some parts
of
the languishing health reform bills.
Clarian, IU plan $100 million neurosciences center
Clarian Health and the Indiana University School of Medicine want their planned neurosciences hub to become a destination
for patients suffering
from brain, nerve and mental maladies—and for the government and industry research dollars that can
fuel advances in care.
Wishard parent ‘ecstatic’ about cheap debt – so far
The Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County got good news in its first round of borrowing to finance a new Wishard
Hospital: so far, it is paying less than planned.
Startup VoCare Inc. might move to find venture capital dollars
A Lebanon-based startup wants to build a call center here and add up to 300 jobs, but state and local officials are struggling
with a big obstacle to keeping the company here.
PTS sues Roche Diagnostic to end blood-monitor royalties
Polymer Technology Systems Inc., a small Indianapolis-based maker of handheld blood monitors, has gone to court to fight
a competitor more than 100 times its size: Roche Diagnostics Corp.
UPDATE: WellPoint price hike defense fails to satisfy feds
Health insurer WellPoint is blaming the Great Recession and rising medical costs for its planned 39 percent rate increase
for some California customers of its Anthem Blue Cross plan. But Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius isn’t
buying the explanation proffered in a letter delivered to her Thursday.
WellPoint blames rate hike on loss of healthy customers
The Indianapolis-based health insurer says a shift in demographics and rising medical costs have led to its planned 39 percent
rate hike for some California customers.
Report: State’s pharmaceutical contractors continue to grow
A report set to be released Wednesday by local life sciences industry group BioCrossroads says Indiana companies providing
contract pharmaceutical research and manufacturing services are weathering the economic downturn and are growing.
CVS settles Indiana complaint over 2 pharmacists
Pharmacy giant CVS will pay $1.95 million and verify that all of its pharmacists are licensed in Indiana to settle a state
complaint that pharmacists with expired licenses dispensed prescriptions for several years at two of its drugstores.
Lebanon startup driving hard deal
VoCare Inc. wants $4 million in cash and tax incentives to open headquarters and call center it says could employ 300 people.