From the former COO of a Cleveland-based health system being charged for his involvement in a RICO conspiracy to Texas Health Resources settling a lawsuit filed by a nurse who survived Ebola, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Former MetroHealth COO indicted for fraud, accepting bribes
The former COO of Cleveland-based MetroHealth System, Edward Hills, DDS, and three others were arrested and charged for their involvement in a RICO conspiracy.
2. Ex-nurse charged with murder of 8 nursing home patients in Canada
Elizabeth Tracey Mae Wettlaufer, a former nurse, was arrested and charged with eight counts of first-degree murder. She's accused of killing eight patients who were in her care at two Canadian nursing homes over a seven-year period.
3. Providence Health to pay $352M to settle ERISA lawsuit
Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health & Services will pay nearly $352 million to resolve claims it underfunded its pension plan.
4. NY cardiologist pleads guilty in attempt to kill competitor
Anthony J. Moschetto, DO, a cardiologist affiliated with Roslyn, N.Y.-based St. Francis Hospital, pleaded guilty in a murder-for-hire scheme that included attempted arson, illegal prescription sales and medieval weaponry.
5. Skilled nursing facility chain inks $145M settlement in false claims case
Cleveland, Tenn.-based Life Care Centers of America, which owns more than 220 skilled nursing facilities across the country, and its owner agreed to pay $145 million to resolve a False Claims Act case.
6. Former Calif. senator who accepted bribes from ex-hospital CEO gets prison time
Ron Calderon, a former California senator, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for accepting $150,000 in bribes from a corrupt hospital executive and undercover FBI agents.
7. Bankrupt California hospital to settle patient dumping suit with $450k
Hawaiian Gardens, Calif.-based Gardens Regional Hospital and Medical Center agreed to pay $450,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the city of Los Angeles, which claims the hospital dumped a homeless woman with schizophrenia on Skid Row, an impoverished area in downtown San Francisco.
8. Texas Health Resources settles lawsuit filed by nurse who survived Ebola
Texas Health Resources settled a lawsuit filed in March 2015 by Nina Pham, a nurse who contracted and survived Ebola in 2014 after caring for a patient diagnosed with the virus at a THR hospital.
9. New York medical practice to pay $5.3M to settle false claims case
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.-based Hudson Valley Hematology Oncology Associates entered into a $5.3 million settlement to resolve allegations it routinely waived copayments without lawful basis and fraudulently billed Medicare for those copayments.
10. Medical privacy concerns spur AARP to sue US over wellness programs: 5 things to know
The AARP filed a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, challenging the federal agency's rules for wellness programs.
More articles on health law:
New era of healthcare fraud investigations puts spotlight on the C-suite
8 latest False Claims Act settlements