1. Sisters of Charity sues Palmetto Health over $50M orthopedic practice
Cleveland-based Sisters of Charity Health System, the former owner of Providence Hospital in Columbia, S.C., sued Palmetto Health, alleging the system is responsible for the demise of Providence’s $50 million orthopedic practice.
2. Class-action suit against ex-operator of shuttered NC hospital moves forward
A federal judge granted class-action status to a lawsuit filed by three former employees of now-shuttered Yadkin Valley Community Hospital against the hospital’s former operator.
3. Pa. physicians, health facilities settle $690k fraud claim
Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Pain Management, three physicians and a number of affiliated clinics have agreed to pay approximately $690,000 to the federal government to resolve allegations they improperly billed government agencies.
4. Court rules J&J’s patent for autoimmune drug invalid: 6 things to know
Johnson & Johnson took a major blow in its ongoing legal battle with rival drug giant Pfizer over a patent for its best-selling autoimmune drug Remicade. A federal judge ruled that a key patent for the drug is invalid, allowing cheaper biosimilar versions to enter the market.
5. Florida urologist settles fraud allegations
A Fort Myers, Fla.-based physician agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve allegations he violated the False Claims Act by submitting medically unnecessary tests to government payers.
6. Man charged with murder in fatal double shooting at Fla. hospital
A man accused of fatally shooting a patient and employee at Parrish Medical Center in Titusville, Fla., was formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
7. NJ couple sentenced to prison for forging physician signatures on 10k diagnostic tests
A married couple from Rockaway, N.J., was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for forging physicians signatures and receiving more than $4.8 million from Medicare and private insurers for diagnostic tests and reports that were never interpreted by a licensed physician.
8. Kentucky AG accuses Johnson & Johnson of deceptive marketing of vaginal implants
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear filed a civil lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its medical device unit, Ethicon, alleging deceptive marketing of surgical mesh medical devices for women.
9. Health First settles antitrust suit on second day of trial
Rockledge, Fla.-based Health First reached a settlement with Melbourne, Fla.-based Omni Healthcare and a group of physicians, resolving a nearly three-year-old antitrust suit accusing Health First of maintaining a monopoly in southern Brevard County through its ownership of hospitals, physician practices and health insurance plans.
10. Teen accused of posing as physician may use insanity defense
A judge delayed the trial of Malachi Love-Robinson, the 19-year-old accused of posing as a physician.
11. Judge prevents Ohio from cutting Planned Parenthood funding
An Ohio judge rejected a state law that would cut federal taxpayer funding from 28 Planned Parenthood clinics
More articles on health law:
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
