From hospitals in Michigan and Indiana entering into settlements to resolve false claims allegations to Pittsburgh-based UPMC suing a health plan for allegedly underpaying on claims, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Appeals court blocks $54B Anthem-Cigna merger
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia affirmed a district court decision blocking the $54 billion proposed merger between health insurance giants Anthem and Cigna.
2. IU Health, HealthNet pay $18M to resolve false billing allegations
Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health and HealthNet, a federally qualified health center that primarily provides care to low-income populations, agreed to pay the federal government and Indiana a combined $18 million to resolve False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute allegations.
3. Partners, Brigham and Women's to pay $10M to settle research fraud suit
Boston-based Partners HealthCare and Brigham and Women's Hospital agreed to pay $10 million to resolve allegations that a Brigham and Women's stem cell research laboratory fraudulently obtained funding from the National Institutes of Health.
4. UPMC sues health plan co-owned by Highmark, claims insurer underpaid since 2013
Pittsburgh-based UPMC is accusing Pittsburgh-based Gateway Health Plan of cutting payments for care provided at UPMC hospitals.
5. Ex-WellCare CEO and CFO face deadline to repay $26M from fraud scheme
Former WellCare Health Plans CEO Todd Farha and the Tampa, Fla.-based company's former CFO Paul Behrens have until May 1 to pay a combined $26 million in civil payments and restitution for their involvement in a healthcare fraud scheme.
6. Sanofi launches antitrust suit against Mylan over EpiPen competition
Sanofi filed a lawsuit against Mylan, alleging the drugmaker engaged in illegal behavior to prevent EpiPen competitors from hitting the market.
7. Shuttered NC hospital's settlement over improper layoff notifications receives preliminary approval
A judge gave preliminary approval to Kansas City, Mo.-based HMC/CAH's settlement in a class-action lawsuit claiming the hospital operator didn't give employees proper notice before laying them off.
8. Michigan hospital pays $791k to resolve false billing allegations
Crittenton Hospital Medical Center in Rochester, Mich., agreed to pay $791,047 to settle false claims allegations.
9. Ex-hospital CEO and SVP get prison time for failing to pay taxes
Two former executives of Hope (Ark.) Medical Park Hospital were sentenced to prison for failing to account for and pay the hospital's payroll taxes from 2009 through 2012.
10. Bermuda claims Lahey's business deal with ex-premier violated Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Boston-based Lahey Hospital & Medical Center claims a contract it had with Bermuda's former premier Ewart F. Brown, MD, was routine, but the island's attorney general disagrees.
11. Illinois city sues Mallinckrodt over price of hormone drug: 4 takeaways
The city of Rockford, Ill., filed a lawsuit against Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals over the price of its hormone drug, H.P Acthar.
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