From the Department of Justice filing a formal request to strike down the entire ACA to investors suing UnitedHealth Group, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. DOJ files formal request to strike down entire ACA: 5 things to know
The Department of Justice argued the ACA is unconstitutional and urged a federal judge to strike down the entire law in a brief filed in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on May 1.
2. Ex-CEO of Florida hospital chain will pay $3.5M to end false billing case
The former CEO of Naples, Fla.-based Health Management Associates entered into a settlement agreement with the federal government that resolves allegations that he caused HMA to submit false claims to Medicare and pay illegal kickbacks to physicians.
3. CHI Franciscan enters $25M settlement over charity care practices
Tacoma, Wash.-based CHI Franciscan agreed to forgive medical debt and rehabilitate the credit of thousands of patients who qualified for charity care at its acute care hospitals between 2012 and 2017 but did not receive it.
4. Investors sue UnitedHealth directors: 4 things to know
Central Laborers Pension Fund and a set of investment funds managed by Amalgamated Bank LongView sued UnitedHealth Group's directors and former CEO in Delaware Chancery Court.
5. Former healthcare CEO sentenced to 2 years probation over kickback scheme
The former CEO of a company providing chronic care management services to Medicare beneficiaries was sentenced to two years of probation for his role in a kickback scheme.
6. McKesson will pay $37M to settle suit claiming it fueled West Virginia opioid epidemic
McKesson agreed to pay $37 million to resolve a lawsuit in West Virginia accusing the drug distributor of contributing to the opioid crisis.
7. Ex-leaders of diabetes test supplier to settle fraud charges for $1M
The founders and former executives of a mail-order diabetes testing supply company each agreed to pay $500,000 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act.
8. Former patient sues IU Health for allegedly altering his medical records
An Indianapolis-based IU Health former patient filed a lawsuit against the health system for allegedly altering his medical records used in prior litigation.
9. Miami plastic surgeon sues former patients for bad Yelp reviews
A famous plastic surgeon in Miami is suing two of his former patients for writing negative online reviews about him and his practice.
10. Florida hospital sues Aetna over readmission payment policy
Lakeland (Fla.) Regional Health filed a lawsuit against Aetna claiming the insurer arbitrarily denied payment for readmitted patients.
11. Patient falls off OR table at Colorado hospital, lawsuit claims
A patient is suing Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Penrose Hospital, claiming he suffered facial fractures after falling off an operating room table.
12. Louisville drug company to pay $17.5M to settle kickback charges
US WorldMeds, a pharmaceutical company based in Louisville, Ky., will pay $17.5 million to resolve allegations that it paid kickbacks to patients and physicians to improperly boost prescriptions for two of its drugs.
13. 27 West Virginia hospitals sue drug industry players, allege opioid conspiracy
Twenty seven hospitals in West Virginia sued opioid manufacturers, distributors and dispensers, accusing the companies of fueling the opioid crisis by using false marketing claims and unregulated shipping mechanisms.
14. Epic says lawsuit over blind accessibility lacks standing
Epic's software may slow down blind hospital workers, but it doesn't prevent them from doing their jobs, the EHR vendor said April 29 in response to a disability lawsuit.
15. Baystate Health hit with class-action suit after phishing attack exposed 12,000 patients
Weeks after Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health reported a phishing attack that exposed the personal health information of 12,000 patients the hospital was slapped with a class-action lawsuit.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
Colorado physician found guilty of destroying patient files to conceal billing fraud
Ex-Pennsylvania health system COO charged in $1.3M fraud scheme
Saint Thomas Health to pay $75K to settle lawsuit over mandatory flu shot