From the Trump administration asking the Supreme Court to strike down the ACA to hospitals losing a lawsuit against HHS over a price disclosure rule, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Trump administration asks Supreme Court to strike down ACA
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court June 25 to strike down the ACA, telling the court that the entire healthcare law "must fall."
2. Ex-CFO sues Tenet unit, alleges retaliation for whistleblowing
The former CFO of United Surgical Partners International, a subsidiary of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, sued his ex-employer in federal court June 24, alleging retaliation for raising concerns about potential securities law violations.
3. Piedmont Healthcare to pay $16M to settle allegations it overbilled Medicare
Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare will pay $16 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by billing at a more expensive inpatient rate for patients who could have received outpatient care.
4. Kentucky rural hospitals secure $383M settlement in Medicaid reimbursement lawsuit
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced June 24 that 54 rural hospitals in Kentucky settled a 13-year-old dispute regarding Medicaid reimbursement rates.
5. Hospitals lose lawsuit against HHS over price disclosure rule
Industry groups representing hospitals and health systems across the nation sued HHS last year, challenging a rule that requires hospitals to disclose the rates they negotiate with insurers beginning in 2021. On June 23, a federal judge granted HHS' motion for summary judgement.
6. Regeneron paid patient charity millions in kickbacks, lawsuit claims
The U.S. government filed a lawsuit against Regeneron Pharmaceuticals June 24 alleging the Tarrytown, N.Y.-based drugmaker paid kickbacks to a patient assistance charity to cover Medicare copays for its eye disease drug, Eylea.
7. Augusta University Medical Center to pay $2.6M to settle false claims charges
Augusta (Ga.) University Medical Center agreed to pay $2.6 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare and Medicaid.
8. LGBTQ groups sue to block federal rollback of protections for transgender patients
A coalition of LGBTQ groups and clinics filed a lawsuit June 22 to block an HHS rule that would roll back protections for transgender patients.
9. Former employee fraudulently used Georgia hospital funds to buy 100 guns
The former director of security for a Georgia hospital pleaded guilty to fraudulently using hospital funds to acquire guns that he then sold for profit.
10. Bankrupt hospitals ineligible for PPP loans, appeals court rules
Bankrupt hospitals aren't eligible for Paycheck Protection Program loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, a U.S. appeals court ruled June 22.
11. Data breach lawsuit against New York health system sent back to state court: 5 notes
A New York federal judge ruled on June 18 that a group of Episcopal Health Services patients suing the Uniondale, N.Y-based health system over a data security incident had grounds to continue the class-action lawsuit in state court.
12. Court invalidates Biogen's Tecfidera patent
A federal judge ruled that Biogen's patent on its top-selling multiple sclerosis drug, Tecfidera, is invalid, opening the drug up to generic competition.