From three hospitals that are part of New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System settling a false claims case for $2.9 million to a physician suing the former CEO of a West Virginia hospital for defamation, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Former Sacred Heart executive gets 1-year prison term
Anthony Puorro, former COO of now-shuttered Sacred Heart Hospital in Chicago, was sentenced to one year in prison for his role in a kickback scheme.
2. Mount Sinai hospitals to pay $2.9M to settle false claims case
Three hospitals that are part of New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System agreed to pay a total of $2.95 million for delaying repayment of more than $800,000 in Medicaid overpayments.
3. Turing executive accuses company officials of retaliating after sexual assault complaint
Nancy Retzlaff, chief commercial officer at New York City-based Turing Pharmaceuticals, filed a federal complaint against the company, claiming she was sexually assaulted by one of Turing's founders and then retaliated against by company leaders.
4. Former CEO of West Virginia hospital sued for defamation
A physician sued Bluefield (W.Va.) Regional Medical Center and former hospital CEO Gigi Fergus for defamation.
5. Federal judge orders Walker County to pay Erlanger $8.7M in hospital loan dispute
U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy ordered Walker County, Ga., to pay Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Health System $8.7 million in a lawsuit over a $20 million loan Erlanger made to a Georgia hospital.
6. 5 states sue over Obama administration transgender health policy
Texas and four other Republican-led states sued the federal government over extending its healthcare nondiscrimination law to transgender individuals.
7. Calif. hospital to pay 3 former employees $1.7M in harassment suit
Community Hospital of Long Beach (Calif.) and the former manager of the hospital's psychiatric unit were ordered to pay $1.7 million to three ex-employees who alleged they were subjected to sexual harassment and discrimination.
8. Indiana health center will pay $190k to settle whistle-blower suit
Madison County Community Health Center in Anderson, Ind., agreed to pay $190,000 to resolve allegations the center operated as a "pill mill."
9. Judge denies Cabell Huntington Hospital's motion to dismiss appeal
A Kanawha County Circuit Court judge denied Cabell Huntington (W.Va.) Hospital's motion to dismiss Steel of West Virginia's appeal of the hospital's agreement to acquire Huntington, W.Va.-based St. Mary's Medical Center.
10. Palmetto Health to fight $50M lawsuit over orthopedic practice
Cleveland-based Sisters of Charity Health System, the former owner of Providence Hospitals in Columbia, S.C., filed a $50 million lawsuit against Palmetto Health, alleging the system is responsible for the demise of Providence's orthopedic practice. Columbia-based Palmetto says the suit is "meritless."
11. HealthNow to pay $1.6M settlement for improperly denying mental health claims
HealthNow, parent of BlueShield of Northeastern New York, agreed to settle a suit claiming it wrongfully denied $1.6 million in health claims in violation of state and federal parity laws that require insurers to cover mental health services.
12. Providence Health and Services hit with lawsuit over child rape allegations
The mother of a 15-year-old psychiatric patient filed a lawsuit against Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health and Services claiming the health system should have done more to prevent a nurse from engaging in a sexual relationship with her underage son.
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31 recently unsealed false claims cases: 5 takeaways
21 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements
Ex-hospital CFO claims he was fired for blowing the whistle on chairman of the board