Indiana’s high court to consider privacy in ‘bizarre’ Community Health case
Who is responsible when a hospital sends a patient’s diagnosis to the wrong person and that person immediately posts the information on Facebook for hundreds to see?
John Russell, Indianapolis Business Journal
Articles
Federal judge triples damages to $183M against Lilly in whistleblower suit
A federal judge in Illinois has tripled the damages in a jury verdict against Eli Lilly and Co., ruling that the drugmaker must pay $183.7 million in a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower who said the company made false claims about federal Medicaid rebates.
State is letting AES Indiana discharge toxic water into White River, group says
An Indiana environmental group says the state is allowing AES Indiana to release more than 1 million gallons of contaminated water a day into the White River from coal ash ponds at its Eagle Valley Generating Station.
Holcomb signs controversial utility bill into law
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law Wednesday a controversial bill that could allow utilities to pass along certain costs to customers for federally mandated projects without having to get pre-approval for those projects from state regulators.
After 3 years and 500 court filings, Community Health and feds still wrangling over false-claims allegations
It’s a massive case against a large Indiana hospital system that shows no signs of wrapping up soon.
Doctors ask lawmakers to free them from noncompete agreements
A flurry of disputes have been raging across the country in recent years over noncompete agreements, which have largely favored hospitals, medical groups and other employers. But the tide could be shifting.
Indiana to get $66.5M to settle overpayment suit against insurer Centene
Indiana has reached a $66.5 million settlement with St. Louis-based health insurer Centene Corp. to resolve allegations that the company overcharged the state’s Medicaid program for pharmaceutical costs.
Indiana Senate panel advances bill to prohibit non-compete agreements for physicians
An Indiana Senate panel voted Wednesday to advance a bill that would prohibit non-compete agreements between physicians and their employers.
Indiana House Republicans propose fines for hospitals with high fees
Upset with what they say is the excessive cost of health care in Indiana, House Republicans want to levy fines against hospitals that charge more than 260% of what Medicare reimburses for services.
3 bills in Indiana Senate take aim at health care costs, practices
Indiana Senate Republicans have introduced a trio of health care-related bills that aim to lower prescription drug costs, promote competition among physicians and end the practice that allows for inaccurate medical billing in certain circumstances.
Indianapolis dermatologist pleads guilty to understating taxes
An Indianapolis physician has pleaded guilty to understating his taxes by about $361,000 over a four-year period, a felony.
Franciscan Health nurse pleads guilty to tampering with pain meds
An emergency room nurse at Franciscan Health Crawfordsville hospital repeatedly tampered with vials of pain medications, including morphine and fentanyl, from an automated medication dispensing system for her own use, authorities say.
Suit accuses Lilly of illegally deducting funds from paychecks for vehicle use, extra time off
Eli Lilly and Co. illegally deducted millions of dollars from employee paychecks to pay for company vehicles and extra time off, a former sales representative claims in a federal lawsuit.
Roche executive sues company for discrimination after losing job in restructuring
A marketing executive at Roche Diagnostics Corp. in Indianapolis who lost her job in a restructuring last year is suing the company in a wide-ranging discrimination complaint.
AES Indiana, customers at odds over $41M in costs incurred while power plant was down
No one is disputing the fact that AES Indiana’s newest power plant, Eagle Valley in Martinsville, conked out twice last year and stayed out of service for 11 months while dozens of experts tried to fix it. But now plenty of people are arguing over who was at fault—and who should pay.
Tensions boil between ER docs, insurers as no-surprises law rolls out
The federal No Surprises Act, which took effect Jan. 1, protects patients from receiving surprise medical bills resulting from unexpected, out-of-network coverage for emergency services, anesthesiology, radiology and other medical care.
A year later, fight continues over vaccine mandates
In recent months, current and former employees of drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co., medical-equipment maker Roche Diagnostics and health care system Ascension St. Vincent have filed suit in federal district court, claiming their religious views and civil liberties were violated.
IU Health gears up to comply with new abortion law with ‘rapid-response team’
Indiana University Health has set up a “rapid-response team” to help its doctors seeking guidance on whether they can legally perform an abortion to protect the health of the mother and other situations.
Federal judge dismisses investors’ complaint against Elanco alleging ‘channel stuffing’
A federal judge has dismissed, for now, an investors’ securities suit against Elanco Animal Health that claimed the Greenfield-based company defrauded shareholders by “stuffing” product distribution channels far in excess of customers’ demands.
Device firm embroiled in lawsuit filed by investors
In a lawsuit filed last month in Marion Superior Court, investors of VoCare accused top officers and board members of self-dealing, gross mismanagement and fraudulent behavior that has put the privately held company in “imminent danger” of insolvency.