A primary care physician in Mission, Texas, paid the federal government $504,588 to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department said Feb. 24.
Legal & Regulatory Issues
From a Massachusetts hospital settling a whistleblower case to a Washington-based health system facing a suit over its collection tactics, here are the latest hospital lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
Washington state's attorney general has filed suit against Providence, alleging that 14 of its hospitals engaged in aggressive tactics to collect payment, failed to ensure discounts for eligible low-income patients, and steered poor patients to debt collectors.
Accusations that Walnut Creek, Calif.-based John Muir Health wrongfully charged residents for drug tests are under investigation by law firm Hagens Berman.
The Justice Department on Feb. 24 filed a lawsuit challenging UnitedHealth Group's planned acquisition of health technology company Change Healthcare.
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A federal judge ruled Feb. 23 that the contentious No Surprises Act arbitration process implemented by HHS violated the Administrative Procedure Act, delivering a win to the Texas Medical Association, according to Law360.
Patients across the U.S. are challenging hospitals' high prices for care, several recent lawsuits have highlighted.
Comanche County Hospital Authority, which owns Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, Okla., and two physicians formerly employed at the hospital have agreed to pay $550,000 to resolve allegations about inappropriate prescribing practices, the Justice Department said Feb. 22.
A patient has filed a lawsuit against Greenville, N.C.-based Vidant Health, alleging the 1,477-bed system engaged in deceptive billing and debt collection practices.
Community Medical Center in Missoula, Mont., said it is disappointed about a lawsuit filed by workers claiming that they were underpaid, particularly because the issue stems from a ransomware attack with Kronos Enterprise System, a third-party vendor.