IU eyes clinical trials to boost research success
The new head of research at the Indiana University School of Medicine thinks the institution is missing out on the more than $6 billion spent each year in the United States on clinical trials.
Health Care & Life Sciences
Articles
Lack of help irks patients after medical data breach
Some patients who had their personal information compromised by a data breach at an Indiana medical software company are having trouble signing up for two years of free credit monitoring and identity protection.
Venture-backed DNA testing firm loses round in court
Strand Diagnostics lost a key court battle on July 30 when a federal judge in Indianapolis granted summary judgment in favor of the Medicare program, which has refused to reimburse Strand for its test since 2012.
Feds detail why they want Armstrong medical records
The federal government says it wants Lance Armstrong's medical records from his 1996 cancer treatments because they could prove just how far he was willing to go to conceal performance-enhancing drug use from the public and his sponsors.
Eli Lilly wins first trial over antidepressant ‘brain zaps’
A jury found Lilly isn't liable for withdrawal symptoms experienced by a woman who quit the antidepressant Cymbalta. The verdict may give the drugmaker leverage in fending off more than 5,000 other lawsuits over the drug.
UPDATE: IU Health reaches labor settlement with nurses
Indiana University Health has agreed to revoke disciplinary actions against two nurses who tried to organize a union at IU Health’s Methodist Hospital earlier this year, the United Steelworkers announced.
Costs of data breaches, just this year, outstrip subsidies to digitize health care
With this year’s bill estimated at $37 billion and counting, perhaps the sheer cost of cleaning up after IT security breaches at health care organizations will spur the industry to find a bandage for its hemorrhaging computer systems.
Anthem-Cigna mega deal might snag on Blue Cross
Anthem Inc. has used the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand names as a powerful tool on its way to becoming the nation’s second-largest health insurer. But those Blue brands now are a hurdle for Anthem’s $54.2 billion acquisition of Cigna Corp.
Financial planning especially tricky for those with special-needs children
Many parents of children with special needs have to choose between working to help cover added expenses or unemployment so they can tend to their child full time. Financial planning is vital for these families, parents and special-needs advocates said.
UPDATE: Feds demand Armstrong medical records from IU
The government wants to see Lance Armstrong’s medical records from his treatments for cancer as it attempts to recover millions of dollars in sponsorship money paid to his cycling teams.
Lilly accused at trial of hiding Cymbalta ‘brain zap’ risk
The drugmaker faces as many as 5,000 cases claiming it downplayed Cymbalta’s withdrawal risks, which allegedly include electrical-shock sensations, vomiting and insomnia.
Indiana medical software company hack affected 3.9M people
The company said the exposed information includes names, addresses, birthdates, Social Security numbers and health records.
After revenue rebounds, Hoosier hospitals start hiring again
Hospitals around Indiana have added 2,400 jobs since September as profits, patient visits and insurance coverage all improved.
Anthem’s Indiana profits soar as Hoosiers cut medical spending by $1 billion
Anthem turned out unheard of gains in 2014, the first year of Obamacare’s new health insurance overhaul, as Anthem’s customers numbers held steady but their spending with hospitals and doctors plummeted.
Tech firm to sponsor free rides for downtown bikeshare
Pedestrians in downtown Indy this weekend can become bicyclists for no charge, as a global technology firm sponsors free rides through the Indiana Pacers Bikeshare program.
Anthem’s second-quarter profit surges past analyst expectations
Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc. reported Wednesday morning that it earned $859.1 million during the three months ended June 30, an increase of 17.5 percent over the same quarter of 2014.
Health spending to gobble up more of U.S. economy
Payments for hospitals, doctors, drugs and insurance will rise by about 5.8 percent a year through 2024—1.1 percentage points faster than overall economic growth, actuaries at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Tuesday in an annual study.
Anthem gets $26.5B funding commitment for Cigna takeover
Anthem Inc.’s bid to become the largest health insurer in history is setting up one of the biggest debt offerings backing a takeover.
Lilly expands R&D outside Indy—again
State and city leaders spend millions each year to entice companies to move here and add jobs here. But for the second time in three months, Eli Lilly and Co. has shown that the biggest attraction to a company is talented workers.
Health insurer deal fever may spread to hospitals next
Seeing mergers like Anthem’s planned acquisition of Cigna Corp., hospitals could decide that striking deals of their own could improve their negotiating power over medical reimbursements.