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.
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Indiana Senate approves doctor noncompete ban
The Indiana Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a ban on physician noncompete agreements, a top Senate GOP priority and one of several bills meant to lower the cost of health care. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
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.
Hospital that broadcast patient information on radio doesn’t have to pay emotional distress damages, COA affirms
Despite her private health information being broadcast to the public on the radio, a woman failed to overturn the entry of summary judgment in favor of an Anderson hospital that she sued for negligence.
Lawmakers hear mixed reviews on bill to lower health care costs
A wide-ranging bill aimed at lowering health care costs for Hoosiers received mixed reviews in committee on Tuesday, from provisions penalizing hospitals for high prices to curtailing the use of non-compete agreements.
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.
Hammond hospital closes ER after COA stay
A northwestern Indiana hospital closed its emergency room Saturday, a day after a Court of Appeals of Indiana judge issued a stay of a lower court ruling that it must operate those services for nine more months.
Judge: NW Indiana hospital must keep ER open for 9 months
A northwestern Indiana hospital that was days away from closing its emergency room has been ordered by a judge to keep those emergency services operational for another nine months.
Pressure remains on HHC to drop Talevski case: Advocates continue fight to prevent SCOTUS from blocking §1983 claims
Grassroots efforts are hopeful and continuing to pressure the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County to withdraw its case pending before the SCOTUS, which is feared as potentially harming the elderly, the disabled and the very young.
COA affirms for doctors, hospital in negligence suit, seeks guidance from Supreme Court
The Court of Appeals of Indiana entered judgment for two doctors and a hospital Thursday, concluding that a patient’s expert affidavit was insufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact about the standard of care she should have received.
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.
Parkview settles with state over billing dispute
Parkview Health in Fort Wayne has settled a nearly $3 million lawsuit with the state over alleged Medicaid overbilling, an allegation the health care system has denied.
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.
2 nurses sue Hendricks Regional Health for underpayment due to time-clock rules
Two nurses who worked at Hendricks Regional Health claim they were required to change into scrubs in locker rooms and travel to their work areas before they could punch in for their shifts, resulting in chronic underpayment.
COA: Surgeon entitled to salary, attorney fees in breach of contract dispute
A former Franciscan Alliance surgeon will get the money he was guaranteed in his base contract before he was fired and the attorney fees from his case in full but won’t receive any additional performance-based monies or liquidated damages from the health care provider, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has affirmed.
Pharmacies can’t discriminate on reproductive health scripts
The Biden administration is warning pharmacies not to discriminate against women who may seek reproductive health prescriptions, including some that might be involved in ending a pregnancy.
7th Circuit: Bloomington antitrust complaint against IU Health can proceed
A Bloomington surgeon alleging Indiana University Health violated federal antitrust laws by acquiring local competitors has convinced the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate his complaint.
Riley nurse loses sex discrimination appeal
A nurse fired from Riley Hospital for Children for behavioral problems failed to prove that her termination was actually due to sex discrimination, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed.
7th Circuit: Bloomington hospital complied with federal law before patient’s death
A widower who sued a Bloomington hospital for failure to operate following his wife’s death did not find relief at the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that the facility had complied with its requirements under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.
High court rules against government on drug reimbursement
The U.S. Supreme Court said Wednesday that the federal government improperly lowered drug reimbursement payments to hospitals and clinics that serve low-income communities, a reduction that cost the facilities billions of dollars.