From the U.S. Supreme Court issuing a key decision on False Claims Act liability to a federal jury convicting a former health clinic CEO of diverting $14 million in federal funding to private companies, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Pacifica Hospital to pay $1M settlement for patient dumping
Pacifica Hospital of the Valley agreed to pay $1 million to resolve allegations that the Sun Valley, Calif.-based hospital failed to follow homeless patient discharge protocols when it sent a patient by taxi to a nursing home
2. Illinois insurance co-op becomes latest insurer to sue feds over ACA payments
Land of Lincoln Health is suing the federal government, claiming the U.S. failed to pay the Chicago-based startup insurer more than $70 million in payments owed under the Affordable Care Act's risk corridor program.
3. Insurer sues Green Mountain Care Board for rejecting 27.4% premium hike
MVP Health Insurance Co. filed suit against Vermont's Green Mountain Care Board, alleging the board overstepped its power when it denied the insurance company's premium rate increase.
4. UW Medicine hospital broke charity care law, class-action suit claims
A class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of two low-income men alleges Northwest Hospital & Medical Center in Seattle fails to properly screen patients for charity care in violation of the Washington state Charity Care Act.
5. Jury awards former Covenant Medical Center employee $500k for wrongful termination
A federal jury awarded more than $500,000 to a former Covenant Medical Center employee, finding that her termination from the Saginaw, Mich.-based hospital was retaliation for taking medical leave.
6. Advocate-NorthShore request expedited appeal in merger case
Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care and Evanston, Ill.-based NorthShore University HealthSystem asked a federal appeals court to speed up the process of hearing arguments from federal antitrust regulators who are determined to stop the two Chicagoland systems from merging.
7. Amid gun control debate, Ga. appeals court hears challenge to contested 'docs vs. glocks' law
A federal appeals court in Atlanta heard arguments in a case challenging a Florida law that prohibits physicians from asking and recording information about their patients' gun ownership. If the law is upheld, the decision could influence whether Georgia would adopt similar measures.
8. Supreme Court decision deals blow to pharma, but a win for generic drugmakers
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld changes made by the Obama administration to patent law, which brand name drugmakers say have dire consequences for the pharmaceutical industry. They argue the changes "breed uncertainty and stifle innovation" in American medicine, while generic drug companies say the changes will help control drug prices.
9. Nurses claim discrimination in lawsuits against NJ hospital
Four lawsuits filed on behalf of former nurses of Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, N.J., claim the nurses faced months of racial and disability discrimination before they were unjustly fired.
10. Ex-health clinic CEO guilty of 98 counts in $14M fraud suit
A federal jury convicted the former CEO of two nonprofit health clinics in Alabama of diverting $14 million in federal funding to private companies he formed to contract with the clinics.
11. UC Health nurse sues health system for covering up scope-related outbreak
A University of Cincinnati Health nurse filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against the system, claiming UC Health failed to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria and covered up its role in the outbreak.
12. Supreme Court issues key decision on False Claims Act liability: 9 things to know
The U.S. Supreme Court limited the reach of the False Claims Act in a mixed ruling for healthcare organizations.
13. Device maker Analogic to pay $15M for bribery violations
Analogic and its Danish subsidiary BK Medical will pay nearly $15 million to settle foreign bribery charges levied against the Peabody, Mass.-based device maker.
14. Physician suing Charleston hospital for harassment that allegedly shuttered her practice
An Ob-GYN is suing Charleston (W.Va.) Area Medical Center and West Virginia University Medical Corporation-Charleston Division for claims that harassment and discrimination forced her to close her local practice.
15. Former Aspen Valley Hospital District worker sues hospital for disclosing HIV status
A former employee of the Aspen (Colo.) Valley Hospital District is suing the hospital, alleging the organization breached his right to privacy when it disclosed he was HIV positive.
16. Mercy files $4.1M suit against Aetna for allegedly withholding reimbursement
Chesterfield, Mo.-based Mercy filed suit against Aetna, claiming the health insurance company has failed to pay the full amount owed for care provided to certain newborn babies.
17. Teva settles patent litigation with AstraZeneca
Teva Pharmaceuticals, based in Jerusalem, settled patent litigation with London-based AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals over the drug Byetta.
18. Wash. public hospitals with maternal services must offer abortions, judge rules
A Washington state judge ruled that public hospitals are required to provide on-site abortions if they offer maternity services.
19. Providers can treat child with one parent's consent, Fla. court rules
The Florida Court of Appeals ruled it is not the duty of healthcare providers to investigate parental disagreements, nor is it required providers receive consent from both parents before administering care to a child.
20. 2 drug salesmen charged for paying physicians to prescribe fentanyl
Two former pharmaceutical company salesmen were charged with violating the Anti-Kickback Statute in connection to their participation in a scheme to pay physicians thousands of dollars to prescribe millions of dollars' worth of fentanyl.
21. Michigan pharmacist technician arrested for embezzling prescription drugs
A pharmacist technician at McLaren Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant was arrested for embezzling some 17,000 pills over a three-year span.
22. CEO of NYC clinic arrested for $5M Medicaid fraud scheme
The CEO of a purportedly nonprofit New York City healthcare provider, Assistance By Improv II, was arrested for his role in a $5 million Medicaid fraud scheme.
23. Louisiana hospital board chairman arrested on counts of conspiracy, filing false records
Board chairman of Luling, La.-based St. Charles Parish Hospital was arrested on four counts of filing false public records and four counts of conspiracy to file false records.