A San Francisco federal judge expressed skepticism about advancing a proposed class action accusing Google of violating privacy laws by collecting health data through its website tracking tools, Bloomberg Law reported Dec. 19.

Two U.S. senators have introduced a bill they say aims to bolster the No Surprises Act by ensuring health insurers "reimburse providers promptly so costs are not passed along to patients."

Riverdale Ga.-based Southern Regional Medical Center is being sued by a patient's family after he escaped from the hospital and was shot by police, Atlanta News First reported Dec. 18.

A family of a late California man has sued Amazon One Medical, claiming he died after a virtual healthcare visit with the company, The Washington Post reported Dec. 18.

A man who authorities say stabbed a security guard last year at Milwaukee-based Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital was sentenced to five years in prison Dec. 12 after pleading guilty to first-degree reckless injury, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

From Nebraska's attorney general suing Change Healthcare to Optum backing out of a proposed "dummy code" settlement, here are 12 healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements and legal developments that Becker's has reported since Dec. 10: 

A physician who worked for two Pasadena, Calif., hospices was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a fraud scheme that defrauded Medicare out of more than $3 million.

A Montana physician was sentenced to six months in prison followed by six months of home confinement for his role in a $31 million telemedicine fraud scheme. 

New York Gov. Kathy Houchul on Dec. 13 vetoed the Local Input for Community Hospitals Act, a bill that would have strengthened community involvement in hospital closure decisions. 

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent signing of several human trafficking bills into law marks a pivotal moment for California's fight against one of society's most insidious crimes.

The former CEO and chief nursing officer at Eureka Springs (Ark.) Hospital have filed lawsuits against the hospital and six commission members, alleging wrongful termination in November after reporting staff complaints about the chief financial officer.

A federal judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit alleging that Edinburg, Texas-based Cornerstone Regional Hospital submitted millions of dollars in fraudulent claims for operations performed by unlicensed foreign physicians, Law.com reported Dec. 11. 

Texas' attorney general is suing a New York physician for providing a Texas woman with abortion-inducing drugs via telehealth.

House Republicans are investigating whether CVS Caremark, a leading pharmacy benefit manager, violated federal antitrust laws by allegedly blocking independent pharmacies from using cost-saving tools outside of its network, The Hill reported Dec. 12. 

Eureka Springs (Ark.) Hospital received an immediate jeopardy warning Nov. 22 after surveyors found it lacked adequate emergency diagnostic laboratory services. The warning was lifted Dec. 3 after the hospital submitted a plan of correction, according to documents obtained by the Eureka Springs Times-Echo.

A New York operations manager was charged for allegedly conspiring to offer and pay kickbacks to physicians in exchange for ordering unnecessary brain scans.

Oroville (Calif.) Hospital agreed to pay $10.25 million to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute, according to a Dec. 12 Justice Department news release.

A Philadelphia judge ordered a new trial in a $45 million malpractice case against Temple Health on Dec. 5, calling the jury's original verdict in August "exorbitant." The case involves a patient who suffered brain damage after aspirating food following hospital discharge.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department's antitrust division on Dec. 11 withdrew the Antitrust Guidelines for Collaborations Among Competitors.

Federal lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill Dec. 11 that would forbid the parent companies of insurers and pharmacy benefit managers from also owning pharmacy businesses.