From a judge refusing to rescind an order requiring HHS to clear its backlog of Medicare appeals to 12 physicians and pharmacists being indicted in a $102 million kickback scheme, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Cedars-Sinai sues HealthCare Partners over unpaid bills
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit Jan. 3 against HealthCare Partners, alleging the El Segundo, Calif.-based medical group owes the hospital more than $6 million.
2. Judge refuses to rescind order requiring HHS to clear Medicare appeals backlog
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg refused to set aside an order requiring HHS to clear its backlog of Medicare reimbursement appeals by the end of 2020.
3. City sues Palomar Health for 7 years of underpaid water bills
The city of Poway, Calif., is suing Escondido, Calif.-based Palomar Health for up to $800,000 it says the healthcare district owes for city water used by Pomerado Hospital between 2008 and 2015.
4. Aetna wins $41.4M suit against Texas hospital over billing scheme
A federal judge ruled Aetna may collect up to $41.4 million in restitution from Humble (Texas) Surgical Hospital, concluding the five-bed hospital violated federal anti-kickback laws.
5. Judge refuses Sanofi, Regeneron's request to overturn Amgen win in patent dispute
A federal judge on Jan. 3 refused to overturn a court verdict regarding a patent dispute between Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based Amgen, Paris-based Sanofi and Tarrytown, N.Y.-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
6. West Virginia reaches $3.5M settlement with drug wholesaler
Springfield, Ill.-based H.D. Smith Wholesale Drug Co. agreed to pay West Virginia $3.5 million to resolve allegations it failed to detect, report and prevent suspicious prescription drug orders.
7. 12 physicians, pharmacists indicted in $102M kickback scheme
Federal prosecutors indicted dozen physicians, pharmacy owners and marketers for allegedly defrauding Tricare, the federal health program for military families, in a $102 million kickback scheme.
8. Federal judge halts ACA's abortion-related, transgender protections
A federal judge in Texas issued a temporary injunction to stall the implementation of an Obama administration policy designed to extend anti-discrimination protections under the ACA to transgender health and abortion-related services.
More articles on health law:
6 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements
Ousted CEO sues Broward Health
DOJ recovers $2.5B from healthcare false claims cases: 5 things to know