From Massachusetts accusing King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services of billing fraud to a plastic surgeon imposter pleading guilty to felony charges, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Wisconsin Department of Health Services to pay $6.9M to settle false billing claims
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services agreed to pay the federal government $6.9 million to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act.
2. Owner of medical debt collection businesses admits embezzling $555k from clients
Rebecca Pargeon, the owner and operator of three medical debt collection businesses, pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling $555,558 from her companies' clients and failing to pay taxes on the ill-gotten gains.
3. Oklahoma hospital, ex-COO and physicians settle false billing case
Norman (Okla.) Regional Health System, its former COO and six radiologists agreed to pay the federal government $1.6 million to settle allegations they engaged in a fraudulent billing scheme.
4. Sanford Health Plan sues federal government for $9M in unpaid risk corridors payments
Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health Plan filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking $9 million in risk corridors payments.
5. Massachusetts accuses UHS of Medicaid billing fraud
The state of Massachusetts intervened in a landmark false claims case accusing King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services of illegally charging Medicaid for outpatient mental health services provided by unqualified staff.
6. Jury sides with hospitals, returns $454M verdict in case over false gown protection claims
A Los Angeles jury returned a $454 million verdict in a class-action lawsuit filed against New York City-based Kimberly-Clark Corp. and its medical technology spinoff Halyard Health.
7. Jury decision in medical negligence case could prompt more claims involving consent, attorneys say
A jury in Seattle awarded $8.5 million to a man and his wife after the man suffered complications from a surgery at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle that he claims was performed by someone who he did not authorize to operate on him.
8. Plastic surgeon imposter in Denver pleads guilty to felony charges
A 37-year-old surgical assistant pleaded guilty to second-degree felony assault, criminal impersonation and unauthorized practice of a physician for performing surgeries at a Denver medical clinic while posing as a licensed physician.
9. Physicians, former assemblyman accused of pumping opioids onto black market in NYC
Thirteen people in New York City, including three physicians, face charges for their alleged participation in a fraud scheme that involved illegally billing Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary medical tests and providing patients oxycodone prescriptions for no legitimate medical purpose.
10. Iowa Supreme Court: Patient can't use safety report in lawsuit against hospital
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled April 7 a patient cannot use a hospital safety report as part of a lawsuit he filed against University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
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