From the former CEO of a Texas hospital pleading guilty to fraud charges to Humana settling a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Co-owner of medical billing company pleads guilty to drug-testing scheme
The co-owner of a medical billing company based in Nicholasville, Ky., pleaded guilty to participating in a drug-testing scheme that led to $1.3 million in fraudulent payments.
2. BCBS Association: It's too late for UPMC to join federal antitrust lawsuit against BCBS plans
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association asked a court to deny Pittsburgh-based UPMC's request to join a lawsuit that argues 36 BCBS insurers unlawfully conspired to divide markets and avoid competition with one another.
3. Arizona hospitals can't impose financial liens on patients, court rules
The Arizona Court of Appeals voided sections of a law that allowed hospitals paid by the state Medicaid program to file financial liens on patients.
4. DC drops lawsuit against Ascension over hospital closure
The District of Columbia dropped its lawsuit against St. Louis-based Ascension and its Washington, D.C.-based hospital over the facility's closure March 6, just days before both parties were scheduled to appear in court.
5. Humana settles pregnancy discrimination lawsuit
Humana agreed to pay $500,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused the health insurer of pregnancy discrimination.
6. Former Texas hospital CEO pleads guilty to defrauding 3 major insurers
The former CEO of Palo Pinto General Hospital in Mineral Wells, Texas, pleaded guilty to defrauding BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, Cigna Texas and UnitedHealthcare out of millions of dollars.
7. New York physician admits to orchestrating $16M false billing scheme
The former operator of two medical clinics in New York City pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme to defraud government payers and illegally sell prescriptions for millions of pain pills.
8. Pipeline Health accused of acquiring Illinois hospital under false pretenses
The village of Melrose Park, Ill., filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles-based Pipeline Health, alleging the company made fraudulent misrepresentations when it acquired Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park.
9. Kansas physician gets life in prison for selling opioids for cash
A Kansas physician was sentenced to life in prison on March 8 after he was convicted of selling opioid prescriptions to patients without a legitimate medical reason.
10. Florida hospital on hook for $1.1M jury award after woman's fall
A woman who slipped on the wet floor at Tallahassee, Fla.-based Capital Regional Medical Center in 2016 was awarded $1.1 million by a jury.
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