From a Michigan hospital settling a religious discrimination lawsuit to the ACA facing a new legal hurdle, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. 2 Texas physicians sue to lift state curbs on dispensing meds directly to patients
Two Texas physicians sued the state pharmacy and medical board in an effort to lift the ban that prevents them from dispensing medication directly to their patients.
2. Michigan hospital will pay $75K to settle religious discrimination suit over flu shot
Owosso, Mich.-based Memorial Healthcare will pay nearly $75,000 to settle a lawsuit claiming the hospital religiously discriminated against a job applicant.
3. ACA faces new legal hurdle
A federal appeals court called for Democratic states and the U.S. House to file a 15-page brief explaining why they have legal standing to defend the ACA.
4. Google, U of Chicago hit with lawsuit over patient data sharing
The University of Chicago Medical Center and Google were served with a lawsuit on June 26 that alleges the hospital violated HIPAA by sharing thousands of patients' records with the technology giant without hiding date stamps or physicians' notes.
5. Penn Medicine settles false claims allegations
Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine agreed to pay $275,000 to resolve allegations that one of its hospitals submitted false claims to Medicaid for obstetric ultrasounds.
6. Kentucky hospital faces class action after workers' health plan canceled
Employees of Pineville Community Hospital filed a class-action complaint against the hospital, its operator and others alleging money deducted from their paychecks to fund their health plan was used for other purposes.
7. AMA sues to block laws it says force physicians to spread misinformation about abortion
The American Medical Association filed a lawsuit June 25 to block enforcement of two North Dakota laws the physicians' group says "force physicians to violate their obligation to give honest and informed advice" about reproductive health.
8. Ex-Iowa hospital CEO charged with theft after auditor's investigation
The former CEO of Regional Medical Center in Manchester, Iowa, and the hospital's former system fund development director were charged with first-degree theft.
9. Drugmakers engaged in price-fixing cover-up, lawsuit claims
A wide-reaching lawsuit unsealed June 24 claims Teva Pharmaceuticals, subsidiaries of Pfizer and 18 other major drugmakers conspired to fix prices for more than 100 drugs and used code words in emails and phone calls cover up their actions.
10. Drexel sues to block threatened closure of Philadelphia hospital
Drexel University in Philadelphia filed a lawsuit June 21 to block American Academic Health System from abruptly closing Hahnemann University Hospital. A Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge rejected Drexel's request June 25. AAHS plans to close Hahnemann University Hospital on Sept. 6.
11. Our Lady of Lourdes settles billing fraud charges for more than $1.1M
Camden, N.J.-based Our Lady of Lourdes Health Foundation and two related Our Lady of Lourdes companies will pay more than $1.1 million to settle billing fraud allegations.
12. Ambulance company settles billing fraud allegations for $1.25M
A Forest Hill, Md.-based ambulance company will pay the U.S. $1.25 million to settle allegations of Medicare billing fraud.
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