The following investigations, lawsuits, settlements or other legal developments involving healthcare providers were reported within the past month, beginning with the most recent.
1. Jury Sides With Whistleblower in Suit Against Corona Regional in California
A jury sided with a whistleblower in a lawsuit against Corona (Calif.) Regional Medical Center, upholding the former employee's claim that he was fired for making complaints about unsafe healthcare conditions and wage violations at the hospital.
2. Highmark Faces Antitrust Allegations
Pittsburgh-based health insurer Highmark is facing an antitrust lawsuit, as three Pennsylvania residents and two businesses claim Highmark and three other payers have violated antitrust law by colluding to not compete against one another. Along with its health insurance offerings, Highmark is also the new operator of West Penn Allegheny Health System in Pittsburgh, which is now known as Allegheny Health Network.
3. Idaho State University to Pay HHS $400K to Settle HIPAA Violations
HHS announced that Idaho State University in Pocatello agreed to pay $400,000 to HHS to settle alleged violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 Security Rule.
4. Parkland Memorial Hospital to Pay $1.4M Settlement to Resolve Fraud Allegations
Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas will pay $1.4 million to resolve allegations it defrauded Medicare and Medicaid.
5. Whistleblower Wins $2.1M in Case Against Bayonne Medical Center
A former employee at Bayonne (N.J.) Medical Center will receive more than $2.1 million after suing the hospital under the state's whistleblower law.
6. Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order Against Phoebe Putney, Palmyra
A judge has issued a temporary restraining order against Phoebe Putney Health System, barring the system and the Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County from furthering the consolidation of Phoebe Putney with Palmyra Medical Center, both in Albany, Ga.
7. Jury Finds Tuomey Healthcare Submitted $39M in Illegal Medicare Kickbacks
A jury has ruled that Sumter, S.C.-based Tuomey Healthcare System submitted $39 million worth of illegal bills to Medicare through kickbacks to 19 specialists.
8. UMass Memorial Health Care Reaches $2.2M Settlement in Employee Pay Suit
UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester, Mass., has tentatively agreed to pay $2.2 million to resolve a three-year long dispute with employees who claim the system did not adequately compensate them for time worked.
9. Adventist Health to Pay $14M to Resolve False Claims Allegations
Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health and its White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles have agreed to pay $14.1 million to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act.
10. HMA Receives SEC Subpoena for Billing Documents
Naples, Fla.-based Health Management Associates disclosed that it received a subpoena from the Securities and Exchange Commission April 25.
Pittsburgh v. UPMC: Legal Arguments Behind the Tax-Exempt Challenge
Stark Law, False Claims and HIPAA: Key Risk Areas for Hospitals
1. Jury Sides With Whistleblower in Suit Against Corona Regional in California
A jury sided with a whistleblower in a lawsuit against Corona (Calif.) Regional Medical Center, upholding the former employee's claim that he was fired for making complaints about unsafe healthcare conditions and wage violations at the hospital.
2. Highmark Faces Antitrust Allegations
Pittsburgh-based health insurer Highmark is facing an antitrust lawsuit, as three Pennsylvania residents and two businesses claim Highmark and three other payers have violated antitrust law by colluding to not compete against one another. Along with its health insurance offerings, Highmark is also the new operator of West Penn Allegheny Health System in Pittsburgh, which is now known as Allegheny Health Network.
3. Idaho State University to Pay HHS $400K to Settle HIPAA Violations
HHS announced that Idaho State University in Pocatello agreed to pay $400,000 to HHS to settle alleged violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 Security Rule.
4. Parkland Memorial Hospital to Pay $1.4M Settlement to Resolve Fraud Allegations
Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas will pay $1.4 million to resolve allegations it defrauded Medicare and Medicaid.
5. Whistleblower Wins $2.1M in Case Against Bayonne Medical Center
A former employee at Bayonne (N.J.) Medical Center will receive more than $2.1 million after suing the hospital under the state's whistleblower law.
6. Judge Issues Temporary Restraining Order Against Phoebe Putney, Palmyra
A judge has issued a temporary restraining order against Phoebe Putney Health System, barring the system and the Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County from furthering the consolidation of Phoebe Putney with Palmyra Medical Center, both in Albany, Ga.
7. Jury Finds Tuomey Healthcare Submitted $39M in Illegal Medicare Kickbacks
A jury has ruled that Sumter, S.C.-based Tuomey Healthcare System submitted $39 million worth of illegal bills to Medicare through kickbacks to 19 specialists.
8. UMass Memorial Health Care Reaches $2.2M Settlement in Employee Pay Suit
UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester, Mass., has tentatively agreed to pay $2.2 million to resolve a three-year long dispute with employees who claim the system did not adequately compensate them for time worked.
9. Adventist Health to Pay $14M to Resolve False Claims Allegations
Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health and its White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles have agreed to pay $14.1 million to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act.
10. HMA Receives SEC Subpoena for Billing Documents
Naples, Fla.-based Health Management Associates disclosed that it received a subpoena from the Securities and Exchange Commission April 25.
More Articles on Hospitals and Lawsuits:
9 Recent Investigations, Lawsuits and Settlements Involving HospitalsPittsburgh v. UPMC: Legal Arguments Behind the Tax-Exempt Challenge
Stark Law, False Claims and HIPAA: Key Risk Areas for Hospitals