From a Mississippi hospital agreeing to pay $156 million to settle pension fraud lawsuits to three Connecticut hospitals joining the legal battle over the two-midnight rule, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Hospital tax exemptions under fire in Illinois
An Illinois appellate court ruled that part of a law that allows nonprofit hospitals to avoid paying millions of dollars in property taxes is unconstitutional.
2. 3 Conn. hospitals join legal battle over two-midnight rule
Three Connecticut hospitals sued HHS over its decision to reduce Medicare payments for inpatient treatment to account for the adoption of the two-midnight rule.
3. Mississippi hospital to pay $156M to settle pension fraud lawsuits
Singing River Health System agreed to pay $156 million to settle multiple lawsuits alleging the Pascagoula, Miss.-based health system failed to make annual required contributions into a retirement fund.
4. Ex-hospital CFO to stand trial on grand theft charge
Standpoint, Idaho-based Bonner General Health's former CFO, Norilina Harvel, will stand trial for felony theft.
5. Chicago physician gets prison time for role in Sacred Heart kickback scheme
A Chicago podiatrist who was convicted last summer of accepting monthly kickbacks from now-shuttered Sacred Heart Hospital in Chicago in exchange for referrals was sentenced to three months in prison.
6. Erlanger sues to recoup $20M loan to Hutcheson Medical Center
Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Health System loaned $20 million to Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., to keep the hospital open. Now, Erlanger is suing to get the money back.
7. Ex-owner of 3 Calif. medical clinics gets 6 1/2 years for paying kickbacks
Hovik Simitian, the former owner and operator of three medical clinics in Los Angeles, was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for his involvement in a massive kickback scheme.
8. New claims surface in scheme involving physician who gave chemo to healthy patients
Farid Fata, MD, a Detroit-area hematologist-oncologist, was sentenced in July to 45 years in prison for administering unnecessary chemotherapy to healthy patients to enable him to fraudulently bill Medicare and private payers for the treatment. However, new allegations have come to light that show the case is far from over.
9. Lung transplant patient sues UPMC Presbyterian over fungal infection
A 70-year-old man who contracted a fungal infection after he underwent a double lung transplant at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh is suing the hospital for negligence, claiming the infection was tied to a mold outbreak at the facility.
10. San Diego diagnostic lab pays $4M to settle kickback allegations
Pathway Genomics, a San Diego-based medical diagnostic laboratory, paid $4 million to settle claims it violated the False Claims Act by paying improper kickbacks to physicians and physician groups in exchange for patient referrals.
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5 False Claims Act trends, cases that will fuel recoveries in 2016
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10 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements