Legal & Regulatory Issues

Three Republican lawmakers are pressing HHS to provide more information on its grant program designed to fund research on malpractice reform, arguing there is little to show for the funds.

Thousands of out-of-state residents may be receiving benefits under MassHealth, Massachusetts' Medicaid program, and others may not meet the payors' income conditions, according to a report from Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne Bump.

A whistleblower suit accusing seven Adventist Health hospitals in Florida of overbilling Medicare for radiology services has been amended to include overbilling in the hospitals' emergency departments, according to an Orlando Sentinel report.

Aon, a risk management provider, has released its annual medical malpractice benchmarking report, which projects a loss rate for hospital professional liability of $3,030 per occupied bed in 2013.

In Minnesota, a district court has ruled that medical staff bylaws do not constitute as binding contracts between physicians and hospitals, according to an American Medical News report.

Pittsburgh-based West Penn Allegheny Health System has filed a countersuit against health insurer Highmark, urging the court to lift an injunction that prevents West Penn from talks with other suitors, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report.  

An employer-sponsored wellness program involving a penalty measure was recently upheld by an appeals court, which ruled that the program was not discriminatory under the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a brief from law firm Epstein Becker Green.

Gary, Ind.-based Methodist Hospitals has settled a suit with several health information technology companies, resolving allegations that the system spent more than $16 million on a computer system that never worked, according to a Post-Tribune report.

CVS subsidiary RxAmerica has reached a $5 million settlement with the United States, resolving allegations that it made false submissions related to the prices of certain generic prescription drugs.

CMS has issued a technical correction to its 2013 final rule for long-term care hospitals, which went into effect Oct. 1.