15 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements

From a California physician group settling false claims allegations to an appeals court refusing to rehear the latest ACA challenge, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.

1. Appeals court will not rehear ACA challenge
A judge from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals called for a rehearing of the latest ACA challenge, but it was swiftly voted down 8-6 by the court.

2. Judge rules sections of HIPAA are not permissible
A Washington, D.C., District Court Judge ruled Jan. 28 that sections of HIPAA that are designed to facilitate cheaper access to patients' medical records are not permissible under the Administrative Procedure Act.

3. Tennessee physician settles allegations of inflating NP charges
A family physician in Knoxville, Tenn., and his practice agreed to pay $285,000 to resolve allegations of improper billing to government healthcare programs.

4. 'Public charge' rule to move ahead everywhere except Illinois
The Supreme Court granted a stay Jan. 27, allowing the Trump administration to enforce its new "public charge" policy everywhere except Illinois while courts sort out the associated legal challenges.

5. Indiana physician accused of being intoxicated on job wins $4.75M defamation suit
An Indiana physician was awarded $4.75 million in a lawsuit that alleged Ascension's St. Vincent Carmel (Ind.) Hospital and its medical group wrongly accused her of being under the influence of alcohol while on the job.

6. California physician group settles false billing case for $2.9M
Arch Health Partners agreed to pay $2.9 million to resolve allegations that the Poway, Calif.-based physician group submitted false claims to Medicare.

7. Ohio county sues hospital board, wants out of deal with OhioHealth
Morrow County is suing the governing board of its county-owned hospital, alleging leaders held secret meetings and entered into unlawful agreements with OhioHealth.

8. Orlando Health hit with whistleblower suit alleging forced referrals
An orthopedic surgeon is suing Orlando Health and three of its subsidiaries, alleging the health system violated federal law by requiring him to perform surgeries and make referrals within its network only.

9. Patients sue Oklahoma hospital over potential exposure to HIV, hepatitis
Two patients are suing Tahlequah, Okla.-based W.W. Hastings Hospital, claiming the hospital failed to adequately warn them about a potential exposure to HIV and hepatitis.

10. Practice Fusion to pay $145M settlement, resolves kickback allegations: 7 key details
Practice Fusion admitted to receiving kickbacks from a major opioid company in exchange for using its EHR platform to influence physician prescription and will pay a multimillion-dollar fine to resolve the investigation.

11. Geisinger sues to stop New Jersey health system from severing merger
Geisinger is seeking a court order to block Atlantic City, N.J.-based AtlantiCare from breaking away from the Danville, Pa.-based system.

12. Healthcare CFO claims he was fired after questioning ambulance billing
The former CFO of Brewster Ambulance Services accused the company of firing him after he tried to expose fraudulent Medicare billing.

13. FTC, New York sue Martin Shkreli, say he blocked generic competition
The Federal Trade Commission and New York's attorney general filed a lawsuit Jan. 27, accusing Martin Shkreli — the former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals who became infamous for hiking the price of a lifesaving drug by 4,000 percent overnight — of scheming to thwart generic competition.

14. South Carolina hospital hit with lawsuit following malware attack
Patients of Georgetown, S.C.-based Tidelands Health filed a class-action lawsuit claiming the health system failed to protect their personal health information following a malware attack.

15. New Jersey health system owners allegedly embezzled millions as hospitals' debt swelled
The owner of Alaris Health is accusing the owners of Jersey City, N.J.-based CarePoint Health of embezzling millions from its money-losing hospitals.

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