The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shut down Commonwealth Financial Systems for illegally trying to collect unverified medical debts after consumers disputed the validity of the debt.

Florida lawmakers have proposed measures to redirect patients from hospital emergency departments as part of a healthcare package for 2024. The state's relationship to Medicaid is one influence on the possibility of added regulations. 

Scripps Clinical Medical Group in San Diego agreed to pay nearly $6.9 million to settle discrimination allegations over a mandatory retirement age for physicians, according to a Dec. 19 news release from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Indianapolis-based Community Health Network has agreed to a $345 million settlement to resolve allegations that, dating back to 2008, it violated the False Claims Act and Stark law.

McKesson Medical-Surgical filed suit against a former account executive, alleging he used confidential information to attract clients to his new employer, Arkansas Business reported Dec. 18. 

A Pennsylvania pain clinic CEO was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in a scheme to defraud Medicare and HHS. 

Warwick, R.I.-based Kent Hospital, an affiliate of Care New England Health System, has agreed to a $35,000 settlement under the Americans with Disabilities Act following a patient complaint. 

Walnut Creek, Calif.-based John Muir Health is calling off its plans to acquire San Ramon (Calif.) Regional Medical Center from majority owner Tenet Healthcare. 

The U.S. Attorney's Office has filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against Steward Health Care System and its subsidiaries, alleging violations of the physician self-referral law and submission of false claims to Medicare. 

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice have unveiled their 2023 merger guidelines, which break down the agencies' factors and frameworks that are utilized when going over merger and acquisition approvals. 

Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital is refuting claims that it improperly disposed of the remains of five infants, the Boston Herald reported Dec. 16.

A Massachusetts-based orthopedic surgeon was convicted by a federal jury for his role in an upcoding scheme. 

A judge told St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital it would not decide on a retrial for its lawsuit case that was brought to light in a Netflix documentary until after the holidays, Fox 13 News reported.  

During a learning session at Becker's 11th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, Ed Gaines, vice president of regulatory affairs and industry liaison for Zotec Partners, led a discussion with healthcare leaders on the current regulatory environment and how it's expected to affect the industry and revenue cycle management in 2024. 

A furloughed inmate who walked away from Erie, Pa.-based UPMC Hamot on Dec. 9 while receiving medical treatment at the facility is facing charges after police said he fled Erie in a car he stole from a hospital employee, the Erie Times-News reported Dec. 14.

North Carolina's attorney general is suing HCA Healthcare, alleging the for-profit hospital operator has cut emergency and cancer care at Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health System and lapsed on its 2019 purchase agreement in doing so. 

From the former CEO of MetroHealth filing a motion to drop his lawsuit against the hospital's board, to Washington University in St. Louis accusing the Missouri attorney general of violating HIPAA, here are six hospital lawsuits, settlements and legal developments Becker's has reported since Dec. 6: 

A Connecticut man pleaded guilty to offenses related to a bomb threat he called in to Yale New Haven (Conn.) Hospital in May 2021.

Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, went into lockdown Dec. 12 after police responded to reports of a man with an assault-style weapon at the hospital. 

Three people have been charged for their alleged roles in a scheme to defraud Minnesota's Medicaid program out of nearly $11 million.