From a former employee suing a Missouri hospital for wrongful discharge to the Department of Justice refusing to defend key provisions of the ACA in a lawsuit brought by 20 Republican-led states, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. DOJ won't defend ACA, argues individual mandate is unconstitutional
The Department of Justice won't defend major provisions of the ACA in a lawsuit brought by 20 Republican-led states, arguing key parts of the ACA are unconstitutional and should be overturned.
2. Class-action suit accuses Trinity Health of cheating workers out of overtime pay
Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health and two of its subsidiaries are facing a punitive class-action lawsuit alleging hourly wage workers were shorted overtime pay, a violation of federal and state wage laws.
3. Patient sues UPMC after nurse exposes 4,700 to tuberculosis
A former patient who was among 4,700 people potentially exposed to tuberculosis by an emergency room nurse at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh is suing UPMC for negligence.
4. 13-hospital Louisiana health system settles false claims allegations
Shreveport, La.-based Allegiance Health Management, a 13-hospital post-acute health system, agreed to a $1.7 million settlement to resolve False Claims Act allegations.
5. Healthcare CEO sentenced to 19 years for $18M physical therapy fraud scheme
The former CEO of Team Work Ready, a Houston-based physical therapy chain, was sentenced June 1 to more than 19 years in prison for his role in an $18 million healthcare fraud scheme.
6. Missouri hospital allegedly fired coder for refusing to ignore improper billing
A medical coder sued Mosaic Life Care Medical Center in St. Joseph, Mo., May 25 for wrongful discharge, unlawful retaliation and age discrimination.
7. Judge orders Maine to move forward with Medicaid expansion
Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage had blocked the Medicaid expansion that voters in his state approved last November, but a judge ordered his administration to move ahead with the expansion June 4.
8. Physicians claim Mississippi children's hospital had 'pervasive mold and cockroaches'
More than 30 physicians have left Batson Children's Hospital, part of Jackson-based University of Mississippi Medical Center, in recent years, including several pediatricians who are now working for a new local competitor. This move has prompted litigation, which calls into question the physicians' motives for breaking away from the hospital
9. Feds arrest police officer for allegedly assaulting patient at New Jersey hospital
Law enforcement arrested Roger Then, a police officer in Paterson, N.J., May 30 for allegedly assaulting a patient at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson earlier this year.
10. Owner of neuropsychology clinic charged with insurance fraud
Michael Howard Kabat, owner of San Diego-based Neuropsychology Consult Services, was charged June 4 with health insurance fraud related to an alleged multimillion-dollar fraudulent billing scheme.
11. Anthem sues California hospital over alleged toxicology lab fraud scheme
Anthem and its affiliates from nine states filed a lawsuit against Sebastopol, Calif.-based Sonoma West Medical Center June 1, accusing the hospital's toxicology program of engaging in fraud and fraudulent concealment, among other charges.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
Missouri hospital employee allegedly stole $54k in medical supplies meant for charity
New York City physician sues former patient for $1M over negative Yelp review
Humana sues government to keep secrets of its $45B Tricare contract confidential