12 Recent Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Hospitals

Molly Gamble (Twitter) -
The following hospital lawsuits, settlements or legal developments were reported within the past month, beginning with the most recent.

1. Salem Hospital in Oregon Sues Local Coordinated Care Organization
Salem (Ore.) Hospital filed a lawsuit against Willamette Valley Community Health, a local coordinated care organization.

2. Broward Health in Florida Probed for Alleged False Claims
A federal investigation is underway at the public system Broward Health, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for alleged false claims to Medicare and Medicaid.

3. Public Hospital in Washington Appeals Case Against UW Medicine
The public hospital district that owns Valley Medical Center in Renton, Wash., is appealing a judge's dismissal of its lawsuit against University of Washington Medicine, which challenges the governance structure of their strategic alliance.

4. EMH Regional Medical Center in Ohio, Cardiologists Settle Alleged False Claims
EMH Regional Medical Center in Elyria, Ohio, and North Ohio Heart Center agreed to pay the government a combined $4.4 million to resolve allegations that they submitted false claims to Medicare. Under the settlement, EMH agreed to pay roughly $3.86 million, and NOHC agreed to pay $541,870.

5. Universal Health Services Awarded $6.9M in Non-Compete Suit Against Acadia Healthcare
For-profit hospital network Universal Health Services won a $6.89 million legal challenge against five former executives who it said breached non-compete agreements when they moved to work for an affiliate of Acadia Healthcare based in Franklin, Tenn.

6. Fired Employee Sues Glendale Adventist Medical Center in California
A former tobacco outreach worker at Glendale (Calif.) Adventist Medical Center is suing the hospital, three hospital executives and three city council members, alleging he was wrongfully terminated from his job.

7. Physician Not Responsible for PA's Improper Conduct, Rules Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that a physician is not responsible for a physician assistant's improper conduct — a decision expected to ease physicians' reluctance to sign on as supervising physicians for PAs.

8. Judge Lets St. Luke's Proceed With Medical Group Purchase Despite Antitrust Lawsuit
A judge ruled that Boise, Idaho-based St. Luke's Health System can proceed with plans to acquire a local physician group despite an antitrust lawsuit filed by two nearby competing hospitals.

9. Minnesota Community Hospital Claims Mayo Clinic is Steering Patients Away
The CEO of River Edge Hospital in St. Peter, Minn., requested the state attorney general investigate Mayo Clinic Health Systems in the area, claiming Mayo physicians and staff are purposely misinforming patients to steer them away from local community hospitals.

10. WakeMed Settles Medicare Overbilling Charges With $8M
Raleigh, N.C.-based WakeMed Health & Hospitals agreed to an $8 million settlement to resolve allegations it improperly billed Medicare for overnight care when patients had been treated and discharged within the same day.

11. Judge Orders Physician's Suit Against August Health to Arbitration
A judge ordered the physician suing Fishersville, Va.-based Augusta Health to take his case through private arbitration. David Herring, MD, sued the system for $3.35 million in damages, claiming the system fired him after he refused to refer patients exclusively to Augusta hospitals and its medical group

12. Allscripts Sues New York City Hospitals Over Epic Contract
Chicago-based Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, an electronic medical record provider, sued New York City Health and Hospitals Corp. after the public hospital operator awarded a contract to competitor Epic.

More Articles on Hospitals and Legal Issues:

Non-Compete Agreements Among Healthcare Providers: 6 Trends
5 Legal Issues Surrounding Electronic Medical Records
3 Core Legal Issues for Hospital Marketing Programs




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