Indiana unveils multi-year rural health plan in newly released federal application
The plan is described as a “collaborative effort” to be jointly led by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and the Indiana Department of Health.
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Indy lab agrees to pay over $9M to settle allegations it filed improper Medicare claims
The government says the lab billed Medicare for respiratory pathogen panels that were unnecessary or tied to improper referral arrangements.
Elevance Health sues feds over ‘arbitrary and capricious’ star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans
At stake are billions of dollars in bonuses that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services awards to insurers that achieve a certain star rating on their Medicare Advantage scores.
Biden administration unveils new rule on nursing home staffing levels
The Biden administration has introduced a controversial set of new regulations intended to increase staffing levels and improve patient care in nursing homes.
Biden sees $35 price cap for insulin as pivotal campaign issue
Rarely a day goes without President Joe Biden mentioning insulin prices. He promotes a $35 price cap for the medication for Americans on Medicare — in White House speeches, campaign stops and even at non-health care events around the country.
Pence seeks ‘common sense’ Social Security, Medicare reform
As he mulls a 2024 presidential bid, former Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday called for “common sense and compassionate solutions” to reform entitlement programs and the nation’s debt burden.
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 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.
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.
Public rally continues push to get HHC to drop SCOTUS petition
Although the oral arguments have passed, grassroots organizers in Indianapolis are sustaining the pressure on the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County to withdraw its case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Elevance Health must face federal suit alleging Medicare Advantage fraud
Indianapolis-based Elevance Health Inc. must face a federal lawsuit alleging that the company defrauded the U.S. government of millions of dollars by falsely certifying incorrect diagnosis data from doctors and other health providers.
What’s in big Biden bill? Health, climate goals become law
President Joe Biden arrived at the White House promising to “build back” America, and legislation he’s signing Tuesday delivers a slimmer, though not insignificant, version of that once sweeping idea.
American Senior Communities agrees to pay $5.6M to settle false claims allegations
American Senior Communities, the largest nursing home company in Indiana, has agreed to pay nearly $5.6 million to resolve allegations that it violated federal laws by submitting false claims to the Medicare program.
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.
Ex-ambulance service owner gets probation in fraud case
The former owner of a northwest Indiana ambulance service has avoided prison after pleading guilty in a health care fraud case that cost the government of millions of dollars.
Drug pricing enforcement action against Lilly blocked by federal court
The federal government’s assertion that Eli Lilly and Co. violated a program to offer low-income Medicaid and Medicare patients discounted drugs was tossed by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in a 65-page opinion, which also hinted that Congress needs to address the problems with the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
AP-NORC poll: Government should help Americans age at home
Most Americans agree that government should help people fulfill a widely held aspiration to age in their own homes, not institutional settings, a new poll finds.
Senate gives Biden a big tool to work around GOP filibuster
With a powerful new tool, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has fresh options for potentially advancing President Joe Biden’s infrastructure package and other priorities past Republican obstruction in the 50-50 split Senate.
Senators: Require nursing homes to disclose COVID vaccine data
Nursing homes have to publicly disclose their vaccination rates for flu and pneumonia but there’s no similar mandate for COVID-19 shots, even though the steepest toll from the virus has been among residents of long-term care facilities.
Roche Diagnostics whistleblower wins $3.6M in settlement agreement
A former manager at Roche Diagnostics Corp. who filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the Indianapolis-based company two years ago has won $3.625 million as her reward in a $12.5 million settlement agreement.