From the owner of a medical billing company being sentenced to prison for her role in a fraud scheme to a Chicago hospital suing Leapfrog for defamation, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits making headlines.
1. Medical billing company owner sentenced to 10 years in prison for role in $26M scheme
The owner of a medical billing company and a Detroit-area physician were sentenced to prison for their roles in a $26 million fraud scheme that involved billing Medicare for nerve block injections that were never provided.
2. DOJ abandons false claims case against nursing home chain
The U.S. Department of Justice is dismissing its False Claims Act lawsuit against HCR ManorCare, a Toledo, Ohio-based provider of short-term, post-hospital services and long-term care.
3. Medical device company's ex-CEO gets 20-year prison sentence for $750M fraud scheme
The former CEO of ArthroCare, an Austin, Texas-based medical device company, was sentenced Nov. 3 to 20 years in prison for his role in a $750 million fraud scheme.
4. 28 Wisconsin counties file opioid lawsuits against drugmakers, physicians
Twenty-eight counties in Wisconsin filed lawsuits against several drugmakers and physicians for allegedly engaging in a deceptive opioid marketing campaign, which facilitated the nation's ongoing opioid overdose crisis.
5. Chicago hospital sues Leapfrog for defamation
Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago is suing Leapfrog for defamation, alleging the hospital ratings agency knowingly used incorrect information to lower the hospital's letter grade for patient safety.
6. Lawsuit: Epic's software double-bills Medicare, Medicaid for anesthesia services
Health IT giant Verona, Wis.-based Epic Systems was hit with a False Claims Act lawsuit that alleges the company's software double-bills Medicare and Medicaid for anesthesia services, resulting in the government being overbilled by hundreds of millions of dollars.
7. U of Wisconsin Health sued over former employee's unauthorized access of medical records
Nineteen plaintiffs are banding together to sue Madison, Wis.-based UW Health and one of its former billing specialists, Kila Lucey, for allegedly accessing their medical records without authorization over the course of 10 years.
8. Former Providence Hospital executive sentenced to prison for stealing $391k from medical association
A former executive at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for stealing $391,600 from an association of medical professionals.
9. CHS' Lutheran Health Network sues ex-CEO for breach of contract, defamation
Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Health Network, part of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, is suing LHN's former CEO Brian Bauer for breach of contract and defamation.
10. Georgia Supreme Court rules Northside Hospital can't shield all financial records in fight over state open-records law
The Georgia Supreme Court ruled that Atlanta-based Northside Hospital can't bar public access to all financial records, overturning a lower court's decision.
11. Kentucky AG files opioid epidemic lawsuit against Endo
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear filed a lawsuit against Endo International for allegedly engaging in deceptive marketing tactics while promoting its controversial opioid Opana ER in the state.
12. Humana sues CMS for $600M+ in risk corridors payments
Humana filed a lawsuit against CMS to recoup more than $600 million in risk corridors payments it claims to be owed under the ACA.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
Maine hospital to pay $1.5M to settle overbilling allegations
Presbyterian Healthcare reaches $18.5M settlement over alleged tax fraud
Maryland hospital quotes Shakespeare in defense of physician who used fake identity