From a Georgia hospital paying $5 million to settle false claims allegations to patients filing a class-action lawsuit against Anthem, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Pennsylvania attorney general takes legal action against UPMC over patient access
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office filed a petition against UPMC, arguing the Pittsburgh-based health system is not in compliance with the state's Public Charity law.
2. Georgia hospital enters $5M settlement with feds to resolve false claims case
Union General Hospital in Blairsville, Ga., agreed to pay $5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and Stark Law.
3. Patients file class-action lawsuit against Anthem over WellStar dispute
Anthem policyholders are filing a class-action lawsuit against the insurer after it did not tell members it planned to go out of network with Marietta, Ga.-based WellStar Health System before they locked into individual health plans for the year.
4. Ex-pharmacy director pleads guilty to defrauding Nebraska hospital of $4.6M
The former pharmacy director for Omaha, Neb.-based Children's Hospital & Medical Center accused of embezzling more than $4.6 million from the hospital pleaded guilty to wire fraud Feb. 4.
5. Federal judge denies Oscar's motion to stop Florida Blue broker policy
A federal district court judge denied Oscar's preliminary injunction to stop Florida Blue from enforcing a policy that Oscar said bars Orlando insurance brokers from selling any other insurance if they sell Florida Blue policies.
6. Judge pauses Optum's suit seeking to protect trade secrets
A Massachusetts federal judge paused a lawsuit filed by UnitedHealth subsidiary Optum seeking to protect its trade secrets from the healthcare venture launched by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase.
7. Specialty pharmacy pays $17M to settle Medicare billing fraud lawsuit
Glen Mills, Pa.-based Pentec Health, which provides drug compounding services, agreed to pay $17 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations.
8. Medical diagnostic test can't be patented, appeals court rules: 6 things to know
A U.S. appeals court ruled that a diagnostic test licensed to Quest Diagnostics' Athena unit that's used to diagnose a severe neurological disorder can't be patented.
9. Walgreens pays nearly $2M to settle claims with MassHealth
Walgreens will pay about $2 million to resolve two lawsuits alleging it overcharged the Massachusetts Medicaid program and falsified information on some of the reimbursement claims.
10. Greenway Health to pay $57M to resolve False Claims Act allegations
Tampa, Fla.-based EHR company Greenway Health will pay $57.25 million to resolve allegations that it misrepresented the capabilities of its software, causing clients to submit false claims to the government in violation of the False Claims Act.
11. Ex-California hospital employee charged with grand theft for allegedly stealing supplies
A former employee of Riverside (Calif.) Community Hospital was charged Feb. 4 with seven counts of grand theft for allegedly stealing surgical equipment from the hospital.
12. CHS reaches settlement with 4.5M patients affected by data breach
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems reached a settlement, which must be approved by the judge, in a class-action lawsuit over a 2014 data breach that affected 4.5 million people.
13. Pathology lab strikes $63M deal in physician kickback case
Inform Diagnostics, an Irving, Texas-based pathology laboratory company, agreed to pay $63.5 million to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act, Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute.
14. Judge dismisses Maryland lawsuit to protect ACA: No evidence 'sky is falling'
A federal judge dismissed Maryland's legal efforts to protect the ACA.
15. New York hospital settlement ends improper billing of rape survivors, reimburses them
BronxCare Health System in New York agreed to pay restitution to rape survivors and revise billing procedures as part of a legal settlement.
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