From a Pennsylvania health system resolving False Claims Act allegations to a federal judge in Texas ruling the ACA is unconstitutional, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines:
1. Federal judge in Texas rules ACA is unconstitutional: 8 things to know
A federal judge in Texas ruled that the entire ACA is unconstitutional, and a fight against the ruling is expected to ensue.
2. UnitedHealth fights lawsuit accusing insurer of underpaying mental health services
UnitedHealth Group filed a motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit claiming the health insurer unlawfully underpaid reimbursements for mental healthcare.
3. Pennsylvania health system, CEO will pay $12.5M to resolve billing probe
Allentown, Pa.-based Coordinated Health and its founder and CEO Emil DiIorio, MD, entered into an agreement with the federal government to settle False Claims Act allegations.
4. Ascension sued by city officials to keep DC health system open
The District of Columbia attorney general's office filed a lawsuit against St. Louis-based Ascension on Dec. 14, claiming the Catholic health system's move to shutter Washington, D.C.-based Providence Health System violates the terms of Providence's hospital license.
5. Aurora Health will pay $12M to resolve improper compensation claims
Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care agreed to pay $12 million to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act and Stark Law.
6. Feds join lawsuit accusing Sutter Health of Medicare Advantage fraud
The Department of Justice intervened in a lawsuit against Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health, alleging the health system and an affiliated medical foundation violated the False Claims Act by submitting inaccurate information about Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.
7. Ex-auditor claims Lee Health inflated physician pay to drive referrals
A former auditor at Fort Myers, Fla.-based Lee Health filed a federal lawsuit alleging the health system paid certain physicians inflated salaries in exchange for patient referrals.
8. Target to pay $3M after allegedly refilling prescriptions without patient OK
Target will pay $3 million to resolve allegations that the company automatically refilled Medicaid recipients' prescriptions without explicit request in Massachusetts.
9. California nurse claims she lost job due to racial discrimination
A Latina former nurse at Pasadena, Calif.-based Huntington Hospital filed a lawsuit against the facility Dec. 7, alleging managers demonstrated racial discrimination and fired her on false claims of unprofessional conduct.
10. 6 Michigan physicians charged in $464M billing fraud scheme
A grand jury in Michigan returned a 56-count indictment Dec. 4 that charges six physicians in a $464 million healthcare fraud scheme.
11. US Supreme Court bows out of states' fight against Planned Parenthood
The nation's highest court decided not to hear appeals from states seeking to bar Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood.
12. 2 physicians charged in $4.7M billing fraud scheme
Two physicians and another man were charged with violating the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and conspiring to commit healthcare fraud Dec. 10.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
Hospitals sue HHS over site-neutral payment policy
Tennessee nurse pleads guilty in $65.7M telemedicine fraud scheme
Ex-CEO of medical debt collection firm convicted in $1.5B fraud scheme