The following hospital lawsuits were reported in the past month, beginning with the most recent.
1. Lawsuit accuses UHS of improperly diverting $100M from hospital
George Washington University is suing King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services in District of Columbia Superior Court, alleging UHS is keeping profits that should be invested in the university's medical school and network of physicians.
2. Hospital groups sue HHS to block price transparency rule
Four organizations representing hospitals and health systems across the nation sued HHS Dec. 4, challenging a final rule that requires hospitals to disclose the rates they negotiate with insurers beginning in 2021.
3. Pennsylvania health system files lawsuit against Nuance over malware attack
Beaver, Pa.-based Heritage Valley Health System filed a lawsuit against Nuance over a 2017 malware attack that caused major disruption at the system.
4. Dignity Health's class-action settlement actually worth $700M, workers say
A California federal judge refused to approve a deal in October requiring Dignity Health to pay more than $100 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the San Francisco-based health system of using a religious Employee Income Retirement Security Act exemption it wasn't entitled to. Current and former Dignity workers argue the deal is actually worth more than $700 million in court documents filed Nov. 25.
5. Mercyhealth wins appeal to build Illinois microhospital
Rockford, Ill.-based Mercyhealth is one step closer to building a microhospital in Crystal Lake, Ill., after an appellate court ruled against its competitor.
6. 15 hospitals sue HHS over Medicare reimbursement
Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell in Pennington, N.J., and 14 other New York and New Jersey hospitals are suing HHS, alleging the agency is disregarding a previous U.S. Supreme Court ruling that sided with hospitals in a Medicare payment dispute.
7. Former exec sues Novant Health for 'reverse discrimination'
A former Novant Health executive is suing the health system for wrongful termination and discrimination — he says he was fired to help the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based organization reach diversity goals.
8. DC hospital allegedly fired director of nursing for reporting unlawful billing
The former director of nursing for emergency and trauma services at Washington, D.C.-based Howard University Hospital filed a lawsuit in November alleging she was fired for reporting unlawful billing practices.
9. 622 hospitals sue HHS, accused of illegally allowing reimbursement cut
More than 600 hospitals are suing HHS, challenging the department's decision to allow a 0.7 percent reduction in Medicare inpatient hospital reimbursement to continue into federal fiscal years 2018 and 2019.
10. US Supreme Court rejects rural Iowa hospital's challenge over Medicare payments
The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear a case that challenged the calculation method for Medicare payments to rural hospitals.
11. Sutter Health to settle kickback lawsuit for $30M
A lawsuit unsealed Nov. 14 reveals Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health settled allegations of a referral fraud scheme for $30 million — $5.8 million of which will be paid to the whistleblower who filed the case.
12. Investment bank sues Georgia hospital for $4.7M in unpaid fees
Healthcare investment banker Cain Brothers filed a lawsuit against DeKalb Medical Center in Decatur, Ga., claiming the hospital owes more than $4.7 million in financial advisory fees associated with the hospital's merger with Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare.
13. Dignity Health must face class action over ER fees, court rules
San Francisco-based Dignity Health must face a class-action lawsuit filed by uninsured patients seeking a declaration that self-pay patients are liable only for the reasonable value of services or treatment provided, a California appeals court ruled Nov. 12.
14. Beaumont Health sues Michigan regulators after hospital plan is rejected
Southfield, Mich.-based Beaumont Health sued Michigan health regulators, claiming they wrongly rejected the system's application to build a hospital.
15. Cardiologist sues for $20M after New York hospital blocks admitting privileges
Philip Totonelly Jr., MD, filed a lawsuit against Carmel, N.Y.-based Putnam Hospital Center, claiming the hospital and other defendants owe him $20 million for allegedly blocking his application for admitting privileges.
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