From a physician charged with stealing medical equipment from an Illinois health system to the dismissal of a healthcare data breach class-action lawsuit, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Florida physician convicted of 162 counts of healthcare fraud
A physician from Gainesville, Fla., was convicted of 162 counts of healthcare fraud for allegedly engaging in a series of false billing schemes.
2. Physician charged with stealing $177k worth of medical equipment from NorthShore
A physician charged with stealing $177,022 worth of medical equipment from Evanston, Ill.-based NorthShore University HealthSystem turned himself into police.
3. LifePoint faces another lawsuit over improper heart procedures
Brentwood, Tenn.-based LifePoint Health is facing another lawsuit over improper interventional cardiology procedures.
4. Penn. court dismisses healthcare breach class-action lawsuit
An appeals court in Pennsylvania upheld a decision that found a health plan was not in violation of state consumer protection laws after a data breach.
5. Michigan urgent care physician faces multiple felonies for improper billing
Bassel Altantawi, MD, of Farmington Hills, Mich., is facing 22 felony charges after police received a tip that he was committing billing fraud.
6. Physician files civil rights complaint against hospital for 'gag order' on abortion advocacy
An obstetrician and gynecologist who performs abortions at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., filed a civil rights complaint, claiming the hospital broke the law by forbidding her to speak publicly in defense of abortions and the procedure's role in healthcare.
7. U. of Mo. Health sued over employee time-tracking system
Employees of Columbia-based University of Missouri Health filed a lawsuit against the health system regarding its time-tracking system for hourly employees. The plaintiffs claim MU Health is in breach of its contract for failing to pay proper compensation.
8. Owner of medical equipment company convicted in $3.2M kickback scheme
Tracy Richardson Brown, 46, former owner of a medical equipment company in New Orleans, was convicted for her role in a $3.2 million Medicare fraud scheme.
9. Several hospitals sued after former employee accused of drug diversion
Rocky Allen, a former surgical technician, worked at several hospitals across the U.S. before being arrested and indicted on drug diversion charges earlier this year. Now, many of the hospitals that employed Mr. Allen are facing lawsuits of their own.
10. Mission Hospital accused of religious discrimination for firing employees who refused flu vaccines
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Hospital for allegedly violating federal religious discrimination laws by firing employees who failed to receive flu vaccinations.
11. Whistle-blower sues West Virginia hospital for wrongful termination
A former employee of Princeton (W.Va.) Community Hospital filed a lawsuit against its parent company, alleging the hospital fired him in retaliation for blowing the whistle on patient safety concerns at the facility.
12. HCA battle over ER bills in Florida continues
A federal appeals court revived a class-action lawsuit alleging three Florida hospitals owned by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Holdings overcharged automobile accident victims for emergency radiological services.
More articles on healthcare industry lawsuits:
Former UConn pharmacist faces 173 charges for forging prescriptions
Advocate Health Care sues to keep reimbursement rates secret
Court orders VA to pay claims for emergency, out-of-network care