Legal & Regulatory Issues

Savannah, Ga.-based St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System will pay the state of Georgia $2.717 million in a civil settlement over Medicaid billing for inpatient and outpatient services at its two Savannah-area hospitals, according to a news release from the Georgia Attorney…

After efforts by House Republicans to repeal healthcare reform failed in the Senate, GOP leaders' next move is to attempt to withhold funding needed to implement reform, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

The U.S. Justice Department plans to intervene in lawsuits accusing North Chicago, Ill.-based Abbott Laboratories of off-label marketing for its drug, Depakote, according to a Chicago Tribune report. Last week, the Justice Department filed notices to intervene in at least…

California health officials are proposing a cap on physician visits covered Medi-Cal, limiting patients to 10 per year in an effort to close the state’s budget gap, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune report. Along with the cap, California Governor…

Wisconsin’s Health Care Transparency law, which took effect Jan. 1., is providing little information consumers want to know, such as specific prices health plans or patients will have to pay for specific medical procedures, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel…

Shriners Hospitals for Children, based in Tampa, Fla., announced it has achieved a 672 percent return-on-investment after utilizing MEMdata's medical equipment procurement model, according to a hospital news release.

Following recent controversies involving healthcare and religion, Vatican officials have announced a new set of biomedical guidelines will be published later this year, according to a USA Today report. The announcement follows recent disputes over the Catholic status of St.…

There is a mentality at some ambulatory surgery centers that if the facility is making money, it must performing well. However, an ASC which becomes complacent with its financial performance could mean lost opportunities to perform even better. Here are…

A federal judge in Mississippi has dismissed a lawsuit against the healthcare reform law, citing procedural issues rather than merits of the case, according to a report by Politico. The action follows a decision by a federal judge in Florida…

When Congress returns next week, Rep. Paul Ryan (D-Wis.), the new Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee, plans to file a discretionary budget that is $74 billion below President Obama's request, according to a release from Mr. Ryan's office.