Medicaid expansion not dead but Legislature still divided
When talking about expanding Medicaid under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, both sides of the aisle in the Statehouse focus on the same point – costs.
Health & Insurance
Articles
CVS to pay $400k to state over illegal billings to Medicaid
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced Wednesday that CVS has agreed to a settlement to resolve allegations that its pharmacists submitted illegal billings for prescriptions to Medicaid for reimbursement.
7th Circuit affirms District Court in long-running nursing home litigation
More than a decade’s worth of litigation was tied up in a 21-page opinion from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, which affirmed decisions in favor of a landowner against the owners of a nursing home lessee.
New report highlights potential benefits of Medicaid expansion
Days after Gov. Mike Pence came out against expanding Medicaid, the Indiana Hospital Association has issued a report that estimates increasing coverage could generate up to $3.4 billion in new economic activity and finance more than 30,000 jobs in the state through 2020.
New HIPAA rule revises breach notification process
Attorneys are navigating massive overhaul of 1996 act.
Pharmacy representation grows as practice niche
Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman P.C. have created what it believes is the first pharmacy practice group in Indiana.
Fraudulent concealment tolls Wrongful Death Act’s limitations period
The Wrongful Death Act’s two-year limitations period is tolled by fraudulent concealment, and plaintiffs whose wrongful death claims have been fraudulently concealed beyond the act’s limitations period have a full two years after the concealment is or should be discovered with reasonable diligence to file their claims, the Indiana Court of Appeals held in a case of first impression.
Debate over health care expansion heating up
Since hospitals are seeing cuts in Medicare, they’re asking the Indiana Legislature to enlarge the Medicaid program.
Indiana Democrats trying to jumpstart conversation on health care
A coalition of Democratic senators and representatives gathered at the Indiana Statehouse Wednesday morning to “jumpstart the conversation” on health care exchanges and Medicaid expansion.
7th Circuit rules in favor of hospital in EMTALA violation suit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the 2003 definition of when a person is to have “come to the emergency room” is a clarification of the rule in effect in 2001 and that a woman who filed a lawsuit under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act did not come to the Wishard Hospital emergency department under that act.
Hospital wins on uninsured patients’ appeal of rates charged
The Indiana Supreme Court ruled in favor of a hospital’s motion to dismiss a complaint brought by uninsured patients regarding the rates charged by the hospital, finding the patients’ complaint failed to state facts on which the trial court could have granted relief.
Five indicted on Medicaid fraud charges
Federal prosecutors this week indicted five people and three affiliated companies on charges of defrauding Medicaid of millions of dollars, according to the office of U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana David Capp.
License of pharmacy in meningitis outbreak suspended
Indiana regulators have suspended the license of a Massachusetts pharmacy at the center of a deadly meningitis outbreak.
Oregon verdict may have impact on Indiana Guardsmen’s KBR suits
A federal jury verdict last week awarded 12 Oregon soldiers $85 million for illnesses linked to a military contractor that knowingly exposed them to toxic chromium dust in Iraq. The result could have implications for 60 similarly situated Indiana National Guard members who are awaiting their day in court.
McKinney now offering health law graduate certificate
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law has created a graduate certificate which will allow students the chance to specialize in health law.
AG seeks to suspend license of pharmaceutical maker linked to meningitis outbreak
Attorney General Greg Zoeller on Friday asked the Indiana Pharmacy Board to suspend the license of a Massachusetts company whose contaminated steroid injections are linked to 43 cases of fungal meningitis and three deaths in the state.
Weinberger sentenced to 84 months in prison
A judge on Friday rejected former Merrillville "nose doctor" Mark Weinberger’s request to be released from federal prison for time served and instead ordered him to spend almost another four years behind bars for fraud.
State cannot enforce $1,000 cap on dental services for Medicaid recipients
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has left in place the preliminary injunction granted by Chief Judge Philip Simon last year that prevents the state from capping dental work for Medicaid recipients at $1,000 a year.
Nurses may be expert witnesses in some standard of care disputes
The Indiana Court of Appeals declined Wednesday to create a blanket rule that nurses cannot qualify as expert witnesses under the Indiana Evidence Rule and testify as to whether a health care provider breached a standard of care or whether an alleged breach caused an injury.
Doctor owed no duty to release prenatal records to adoptive parents
A New York couple who adopted a child born in Lake County lost their appeal of an unsuccessful negligence claim against a doctor who did not provide requested prenatal records that would have revealed the child’s significant brain abnormalities before the adoption was finalized.