Health & Insurance - The Indiana Lawyer

Column: Does Patchett v. Lee make patchwork of medical specials?

December 29, 2015

The Indiana Court of Appeals recently affirmed a ruling in Patchett v. Lee, 29A04-1501-CT-1 (Ind. Ct. App. Nov. 19, 2015), which held that government reimbursement rates are not an accurate reflection of the value of health care services, and thus are inadmissible as evidence of the reasonable value of medical services in personal-injury cases. The Patchett ruling signified a major shift in Indiana law on the determination of medical specials damages.

Lawyers: NFL concussion deal excludes central brain injury

November 19, 2015

Lawyers appealing the NFL's $1 billion plan to address concussion-linked injuries in former players asked a court Thursday to reject the settlement because it excludes what they call the signature brain disease of football.

LLC denied royalties because of unenforceable contract

November 6, 2015

A company that sued seeking nearly $750 million in unpaid royalties for sales on medical devices using certain patents lost its appeal before the Indiana Court of Appeals because the contract is unenforceable.

Preventable medical errors hit new high in Indiana

October 22, 2015

New data released from the Indiana State Department of Health shows that the state has set another record for medical errors.

Health law penalty on uninsured getting stiffer

October 19, 2015

The math is harsh: The federal penalty for having no health insurance is set to jump to $695, and the Obama administration is being urged to highlight that cold fact to help drive its new pitch for health law sign-ups.

Rogue nurse prompts call to revisit privacy rulings

October 2, 2015

Noting technology is advancing faster that privacy law, an Indiana Court of Appeals judge is urging the Indiana Supreme Court to revisit precedent regarding invasion of privacy claims.

Congress passes bill easing small business health law rules

October 2, 2015

Congress approved bipartisan legislation Thursday aimed at preventing premium increases that some smaller businesses were expecting next year under President Barack Obama's health care law.

Lawsuit alleges Crown Hill illegally solicited people in hospitals, care facilities

September 28, 2015

Indiana’s largest cemetery illegally made direct solicitations to people in hospitals, mental health facilities and other care settings, alleges a class-action lawsuit filed Monday in Indianapolis.

Hospital group favors raising limit on medical malpractice damages

September 22, 2015

Proposals to increase the state-imposed $1.25 million cap on damages in medical malpractice cases have some unlikely supporters: Indiana hospitals.

Indy nonprofit, law firm help curb childhood diseases

September 8, 2015

Lauren Braun has been helping safeguard the health of children in impoverished countries for years. A small band she’s developed could bring those efforts full circle with a pro bono assist from a small band of Indianapolis lawyers.

Indiana clears Planned Parenthood of wrongdoing after videos

July 31, 2015

Indiana on Thursday cleared Planned Parenthood facilities that perform abortions in the state of any wrongdoing in the handling of fetal tissue.

Lawyers applaud proposed changes to child support guidelines

July 28, 2015

The passage and implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act is underlying a proposal to rid Indiana’s child support guidelines of a loophole and complicated health insurance worksheet.

Involuntary commitment vacated for lack of evidence

July 20, 2015

An Indianapolis woman was improperly ordered committed for mental illness, but there was insufficient evidence she was gravely disabled, a panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Monday. The decision further emphasizes the need for clear and convincing evidence of grave disability to support a commitment.

The ACA lives on: Supreme Court maintains the status quo

July 14, 2015

Like a cat with nine lives, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has survived its second trip to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Community Health to pay $20M to settle false claims charges

June 30, 2015

Community Health Network has agreed to pay $20.3 million to settle claims from state and federal authorities that it overbilled for outpatient surgeries, according to an announcement Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Justice.

MDL panel picks California for Anthem lawsuits

June 30, 2015

Indianapolis law firms that filed suit against the insurance giant after massive cyberbreach are surprised cases won’t be tried in Indiana

SCOTUS upholds nationwide health care law subsidies

June 25, 2015

The Supreme Court of the United States on Thursday upheld the nationwide tax subsidies under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, in a ruling that preserves health insurance for millions of Americans.

Former nursing home employee faces forgery, fraud charges

June 15, 2015

A former employee at a southeastern Indiana nursing home faces charges alleging that she bilked the home's elderly residents out of nearly $10,000 in Medicare funds.

Care facility’s petition for judicial review barred by res judicata

June 10, 2015

A Merrillville nursing facility’s third petition seeking judicial review of the state Department of Health’s decision to deny a full license to the facility was barred by a previous petition for judicial review of the matter, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled.

How law firms use Facebook and other data to track down medical victims

May 27, 2015

For ambulance chasers, persistence and a phone book just don’t cut it anymore. Law firms, which once relied on television commercials, billboards, and cold calling numbers in the white pages to find plaintiffs for medical lawsuits, have begun to embrace technology. To locate their ideal pharma victims more quickly and at lower costs, they're using data compiled from Facebook, marketing firms, and public sources, with help from digital bounty hunters.

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