From Phoenix-based Banner Health settling a False Claims Act lawsuit to Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare defeating a class-action lawsuit alleging overpayments, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. West Virginia hospital sues for $169k in care provided to inmate
Cabell Huntington (W.Va.) Hospital sued a West Virginia jail and county commission over $168,985.65 in unpaid medical bills for an inmate.
2. Banner Health will pay $18M to settle false claims allegations
Banner Health, a 28-hospital system based in Phoenix, agreed to pay the federal government more than $18 million to resolve allegations that 12 of its hospitals in Arizona and Colorado submitted false claims to Medicare.
3. Tenet defeats class-action lawsuit alleging overpayments: 8 things to know
A Florida federal judge dismissed a putative class-action lawsuit against Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare's Florida Region and one of its hospitals filed by a Medicare Advantage assignee trying to recoup insurance payments under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act.
4. Former surgeon accused of raking in $860k by illegally reviewing patient files
Spyros Panos, MD, a former orthopedic surgeon who was previously convicted of healthcare fraud, is accused of assuming the identity of a licensed orthopedic surgeon to review patient files in workers' compensation cases.
5. Mississippi Supreme Court orders Medicaid to pay $2M to hospitals after skimping reimbursements
The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled the state's Medicaid program must pay back $2 million to 12 state hospitals after illegally changing its payment formula for radiology and laboratory services.
6. Former Georgia hospital CEO, physicians indicted in pain med scheme
The former CEO of Blairsville, Ga.-based Union General Hospital, along with two physicians, was indicted for illegally prescribing and obtaining thousands of doses of prescription pain medications.
7. Aetna whistle-blower accuses CVS of 'spread pricing' in federal lawsuit
CVS Caremark, the pharmacy benefit management division of Woonsocket, R.I.-based CVS Health, stands accused of improperly reporting Medicare generic drug prices to CMS.
8. Former medical assistant at Children's Pediatric Clinic + 7 others arrested for prescription fraud
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office arrested eight individuals — including a former medical assistant at LaPlace, La.-based Children's Pediatric Clinic — in connection with a fraudulent prescription drug ring for opiate-based medication.
9. Former Texas hospital nurse charged with murder of patient
A former nurse at Tyler, Texas-based Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital and Christus Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler was charged with murder in a patient's death and is a suspect in at least two other care interventions that left patients in vegetative states.
10. New Jersey joins Democratic states in legal fight against anti-ACA lawsuit
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal joined leaders in other Democratic states in fighting a lawsuit filed by Texas and other Republican states that looks to overturn the ACA.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
Feds, 30 states claim McKesson illegally repackaged cancer drugs to maximize profits: 5 things to know
Teen sues Michigan hospital after vicious attack in ER
California files antitrust suit against Sutter Health: 5 things to know