From a Vermont hospital settling false claims allegations to a 20-state lawsuit arguing the ACA is unconstitutional, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Vermont hospital paid $1.7M to settle false claims allegations
Brattleboro (Vt.) Memorial Hospital paid Vermont and the federal government approximately $1.7 million to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act.
2. Nurse wins $3.83M racial discrimination lawsuit against Hawaii hospital
A jury awarded Ellen Harris, RN, $3.83 million in damages Feb. 28, concluding a five-year legal battle between Ms. Harris and Honolulu-based The Queen's Medical Center.
3. Anthem Blue Cross accuses California hospital of $13.5M billing scheme: 9 things to know
Anthem Blue Cross is accusing Sonoma West Medical Center and the hospital's owner, Palm Drive Health Care District, both in Sebastopol, Calif., of fraudulently billing for toxicology testing services.
4. 35 hospital groups urge court to halt $1.6B in Medicare payment cuts
Thirty-five state and regional hospital associations filed a friend of the court brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to reverse a lower court decision and grant a preliminary injunction to stop a Medicare payment reduction for many hospitals in the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
5. Judge rules ex-Lutheran CEO improperly disclosed CHS' confidential information: 7 things to know
A Tennessee judge issued an order Feb. 26 stating the former CEO of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Health Network improperly disclosed confidential information belonging to LHN and its parent company, Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems.
6. Ohio AG targets 4 drug distributors in second opioid lawsuit
Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit against four drug distributors, alleging the companies created a public nuisance through unsafe distribution tactics that resulted in the oversupply of opioids in Ohio.
7. Judge dismisses Molina's lawsuit over New Mexico Medicaid contracts: 3 things to know
A judged tossed Molina Healthcare of New Mexico's lawsuit to stop New Mexico from moving forward with newly awarded Medicaid contracts.
8. 20-state lawsuit argues ACA unconstitutional after individual mandate repeal: 5 things to know
A 20-state coalition filed a lawsuit against the federal government Feb. 26 seeking to end the ACA.
9. New Hampshire woman sues state hospital and health services over patient assault: 9 things to know
A woman who worked as a psychiatric advanced practice registered nurse at Concord-based New Hampshire Hospital sued the state and facility regarding a mentally ill patient who attacked her in 2014.
10. New York judge drops charges against surgeon accused of strangling nurse with elastic cord
A Nassau County District Court judge on Feb. 20 dropped criminal charges against an East Meadow, N.Y.-based Nassau University Medical Center surgeon who was accused of strangling a nurse with an elastic cord.
11. DOJ abandons most of lawsuit accusing UnitedHealth of Medicare fraud
The Justice Department cast aside much of a False Claims Act lawsuit alleging UnitedHealth Group used incorrect risk scores to inflate Medicare Advantage payments.
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