Indiana officials planning 95 new coronavirus testing sites
Nearly 100 additional coronavirus testing sites are planned across Indiana by the end of this month, state officials announced Wednesday.
Health Care & Insurance
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Reversal grants estate compelled arbitration in nursing home med-mal case
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed the denial of an estate’s motion to compel arbitration against a nursing facility after concluding that the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act does not apply in the case.
McKinney experts offer ‘roadmap’ to control COVID-19
To put it mildly, the year of COVID-19 has been a time of uncertainty. That’s why a group of law professors, including two from Indianapolis, has been working since March to shine a light on the role the law plays in a national emergency.
In Anthem-Cigna ‘soap opera,’ judge hands damages to neither
A Delaware judge rebuffed efforts by both Cigna Corp. and Anthem Inc. to collect billions over their failed merger, saying Cigna had breached its obligations but the merger was likely to have been blocked on antitrust grounds anyway.
COA reverses in part for hospital in summary judgment dispute
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed in part the denial of an insurance company’s motion for summary judgment against a hospital. But it reversed a denial of the hospital’s own motion after finding its was entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
SCOTUS sides with Trump in religious birth control opt-out case
The United States Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with the Trump administration in its effort to allow employers who cite religious or moral objections to opt out of providing no-cost birth control to women as required by the Affordable Care Act.
COA reverses denial of elderly man’s Medicaid application
An elderly man living in a nursing home was wrongly denied Medicaid benefits, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday, reversing a decision from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.
Trump administration urges end to Affordable Care Act as pandemic surges
As coronavirus cases rise in more than half of the states, the Trump administration is urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act. The administration’s high court filing Thursday came the same day the government reported that close to half a million people who lost their health insurance amid the economic shutdown to slow the spread of COVID-19 have gotten coverage through HealthCare.gov.
White House wins ruling on health care price disclosure
The Trump administration won a court ruling Tuesday upholding its plan to require insurers and hospitals to disclose prices for common tests and procedures in a bid to promote competition and push down costs.
Feds seek $225M fine for pair who made a billion robocalls
The U.S. communications regulator on Tuesday proposed a $225 million fine, its largest ever, against two health insurance telemarketers for spamming people with 1 billion robocalls using fake phone numbers.
‘Narrow decision’ leads justices to reverse in health care payment dispute
A dialysis provider will have another chance to claim the money it believes it is owed after the Indiana Supreme Court pointed to its own precedent and found the trial court erred by entering summary judgment for the defendants.
Justice Department suit alleges Anthem overbilled in its popular Medicare Advantage plans
A new lawsuit alleges that Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc., one of the nation’s largest providers of Medicare Advantage plans for seniors, defrauded the U.S. government of millions of dollars over four years by falsely certifying the accuracy of incorrect diagnosis data from doctors and other health providers.
COA affirms for insurer in UIM coverage case
A woman who was injured in a car crash and racked up a hefty medical bill did not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that it should reverse a trial court’s judgment in favor of her insurance company.
Legislation aimed at reducing health care costs passes, but impact could be weak
Despite lengthy debates on reducing health care costs this year, Indiana lawmakers eliminated the provision business leaders said was likely to have the most impact.
Indiana hospital bill proposal rolled back amid protest
Indiana lawmakers on Monday rolled back a proposal that could cut how much insurance companies pay for medical services performed at offices located away from a hospital’s main campus.
Supreme Court will decide fate of Obama health care law
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide a lawsuit that threatens the Obama-era health care law, but the decision is not likely until after the 2020 election.
Lawmakers consider hospital billing regulations
As Indiana lawmakers wrestle with various ideas to reduce health care costs, one proposal that business groups say would have an immediate impact has drawn opposition from hospitals.
Some doctors worried by Indiana ‘surprise’ billing proposal
Some Indiana doctors are raising fears about possible loss of emergency services under a plan to limit “surprise” medical bills that can plague patients who have been unknowingly treated by providers from outside their insurance networks.
State aims to extend Healthy Indiana Plan
Indiana has submitted a request for a 10-year extension of its Medicaid alternative program, the Healthy Indiana Plan, and still included is the suspended work requirement that was imposed on some enrollees in the public assistance program but is currently under review by the courts.
Controlling costly care: Lawmakers weigh surprise billing, transparency legislation
The idea of increasing health care affordability and cost transparency has received bipartisan support, but the devil has been in the details. Even so, federal lawmakers feel confident Congress will enact legislation to end surprise billing this year, while Indiana lawmakers say they’re committed to creating state solutions to drive down Hoosier health care costs.