From Pittsburgh-based UPMC suing the Pennsylvania attorney general to a former hospital financial analyst being sentenced to prison for embezzlement, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. UPMC sues Pennsylvania AG, says state can't interfere in Highmark dispute
UPMC claimed Pennsylvania's attempt to compel the health system to work with rival Highmark after a state-brokered agreement expires is an overstep of authority.
2. Financial analyst gets prison time for embezzling $46K from West Virginia hospital
A former financial analyst for Pleasant Valley Hospital in Point Pleasant, W.Va., was sentenced to three months in prison after pleading guilty last year to embezzling more than $46,000 from the hospital.
3. Aetna settles claims denial lawsuit for $6.2M
Aetna agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the health insurer of categorically denying depression treatment claims.
4. Ex-CEO accused of defrauding eHealth Technologies
A federal grand jury issued a 15-count indictment charging the former CEO of eHealth Technologies, a Rochester, N.Y.-based health IT company, with wire fraud, money laundering and filing a false tax return.
5. Bank sues Tennessee hospital for $2M
A local bank is suing Lauderdale Community Hospital in Ripley, Tenn., to recoup loan payments.
6. Patient recruiter pleads guilty to $1.2M kickback scheme
A patient recruiter in Michigan pleaded guilty to participating in a kickback scheme that led to about $1.2 million in fraudulent Medicare claims.
7. BCBS of North Dakota fires back at patients in air ambulance lawsuit
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota rejected claims in a lawsuit filed by a couple questioning the insurer's reimbursement policy for medical flights.
8. Testimony gives insight on key aim of Amazon-Berkshire-JPMorgan venture
In a testimony unsealed Feb. 20, one of the core missions of the healthcare venture launched by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JP Morgan Chase was revealed: It's looking to redesign insurance.
9. Louisiana physician, medical billing supervisor plead guilty to Medicare fraud
A Louisiana physician and his medical billing supervisor pleaded guilty to participating in a Medicare fraud scheme.
10. Insurers win more legal fights over ACA payments
Two judges with the Court of Federal Claims ruled that health insurers should receive unpaid cost-sharing reduction payments, which were established under the ACA to help insurers subsidize the cost of coverage for low-income Americans.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
Nurses sue CHI over on-call pay: 4 things to know
Intermountain: Whistle-blower provisions of False Claims Act are unconstitutional
Physician gets 75 months in prison for role in false billing scheme