The following investigations, lawsuits, settlements or other legal developments involving healthcare providers were reported within the past month, beginning with the most recent.
1. U.S. Joins False Claims Suit Against Infirmary Health System
The Department of Justice has intervened in a False Claims lawsuit against Mobile, Ala.-based Infirmary Health System, which allegedly billed Medicare for services referred by physicians in violation of the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute.
2. Doctors Hospital of Augusta to Pay $1.02M False Claims Settlement
Doctors Hospital of Augusta (Ga.) agreed to pay $1.02 million to resolve allegations that it submitted or caused the submission of false claims to Medicare and Tricare.
3. Hospitalist Firm to Pay $14.5M for Allegedly Inflated Medicare Claims
Tacoma, Wash.-based Sound Inpatient Physicians will pay $14.5 million to resolve allegations it overbilled Medicare and other federal health programs. The settlement resolves allegations that the firm knowingly submitted inflated claims to federal health programs between 2004 and 2012.
4. Potential Damages in Halifax Health Lawsuit Could Hit $1B
The potential damages and penalties in the whistleblower suit against Daytona Beach, Fla.-based Halifax Health could hit $1 billion. The Department of Justice filed new documents in federal court in Orlando asking for $750 million to more than $1 billion in the case — an amount that could make the case one of the largest of its kind.
5. 55 Hospitals to Pay $34M to Resolve Charges of Improper Kyphoplasty Billing
Fifty-five hospitals across 21 states agreed to pay more than $34 million combined to resolve alleged false claims to Medicare for kyphoplasty procedures.
6. University of Louisville Hospital to Pay $2.8M for Alleged False Billing
The University of Louisville (Ky.) Hospital agreed to pay the federal government roughly $2.83 million to resolve allegations of false billing to Medicare.
7. UPMC Demands Highmark Withdraw 2009 Antitrust Suit
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center filed a court motion, demanding Pittsburgh-based health insurer Highmark withdraw a 2009 antitrust lawsuit against the health system filed by Highmark's affiliate, West Penn Allegheny Health System.
8. Pittsburgh Files Motion to Dismiss UPMC's Counter Suit
The city of Pittsburgh filed a motion to dismiss University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's civil rights lawsuit against city Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.
9. Westerly Hospital to Pay $500k for Allegedly Improper Physician Arrangements
Westerly (R.I.) Hospital will pay the federal government $500,000 after an investigation identified potentially improper agreements between the hospital and physicians.
10. DOJ OKs Parkland Memorial's $1.4M Settlement for Overbilling Allegations
The U.S. Department of Justice finalized a $1.4 million settlement from Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, which will resolve whistleblower allegations that the hospital defrauded federal insurance programs.
More Articles on Legal Issues for Hospitals and Health Systems:
10 Recent Investigations, Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Hospitals
Stark Law, False Claims and HIPAA: Key Risk Areas for Hospitals
CMS: More Than 14k Providers Kicked Out of Medicare Since 2011