From Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health agreeing to pay $75 million to settle pension mismanagement lawsuits to a New York physician facing 40 years in prison for a Medicare billing scheme, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Former Florida hospital employee gets 3 years for stealing patient information
A former employee of Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital was sentenced to three years in federal prison for wrongful disclosure of individual identifiable health information and wire fraud.
2. Ex-hospital CFO claims he was fired for blowing the whistle on chairman of the board
The former CFO of Sebastopol, Calif.-based Sonoma West Medical Center sued the hospital, alleging he was fired for reporting the chairman of the board's corrupt behavior to hospital officials.
3. Erlanger demands $8.7M in suit over $20M hospital loan
Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Health System filed a motion for summary in its pending lawsuit against Walker County, Ga., in an attempt to recoup part of a $20 million loan Erlanger made to a Georgia hospital.
4. Trinity Health to pay $75M to settle pension mismanagement class-action lawsuits
Trinity Health will pay $75 million to resolve allegations that it mismanaged its pension plans, putting an end to more than two dozen class-action lawsuits that have been filed against the Livonia, Mich.-based system over the past three years.
5. Connecticut joins DOJ fight against Anthem-Cigna merger
Attorney General George Jepsen said Connecticut will join the U.S. Department of Justice and 11 other state attorneys general in filing an antitrust lawsuit to block a merger between Indianapolis-based Anthem and Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna.
6. Feds sue owner of medical device company for grant fraud
The federal government filed a civil suit against Jerome Hahn, owner of Lexington, Ky.-based Telehealth Holdings, for violations of the False Claims Act.
7. St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center to pay $3.2M to resolve false billing allegations
Syracuse, N.Y.-based St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center will pay $3.2 million to resolve allegations it submitted false claims for payment to the New York Medicaid program.
8. Humana sues drug testing company over allegedly improper billing
Louisville, Ky.-based Humana claims Baltimore, Md.-based Ameritox fraudulently sought and received millions for services not covered under Humana's health insurance plans.
9. 2 Mississippi hospital file suit over 2014 Medicaid underpayments
Gulfport, Miss.-based Memorial Hospital and Singing River Health System in Pascagoula, Miss., filed suit against the Division of Medicaid after the agency denied their appeal to recover underpayments from fiscal year 2014.
10. Physician charged with making terrorist threat after pointing gun at medical assistant
Jose Nazar, MD, is charged with simple assault and making terroristic threats after state police say he pointed a handgun at a medical assistant at Endless Mountains Health Systems, a 25-bed hospital in Montrose, Pa.
11. NY surgeon faces 40 years in prison for Medicare billing scheme
A surgeon who practiced at hospitals in Brooklyn and Long Island, New York, faces 40 years in prison for submitting more than $25 million in false claims to Medicare.
12. Boston co-op sues feds for $16.7M risk adjustment payment
Boston-based insurance co-op Minuteman Health filed a lawsuit against the federal government over the $16.7 million it owes under the Affordable Care Act's risk adjustment program.
13. Judge approves $12.5M settlement in UPMC antitrust case
A federal judge approved a partial settlement of an antitrust lawsuit that involves Pittsburgh-based UPMC.
14. Lawsuit alleges Arizona is denying full Medicaid benefits to eligible immigrants
A federal lawsuit against the state of Arizona alleges a state agency is providing low-income immigrants with only emergency coverage instead of the full medical benefits they are eligible for.
15. New Mexico insurance co-op sues feds over risk adjustment
New Mexico Health Connections sued the federal government for allegedly mismanaging the Affordable Care Act's risk adjustment program, under which the insurer owes $14.6 million.
16. Owner of Chicago clinic charged with conspiracy to commit Medicare fraud
Prosecutors charged three men in connection with a healthcare fraud scheme that allegedly involved prescribing and dispensing painkillers to patients who did not need them.
17. Judge OKs class-action suit against Minnesota for $1B in Medicaid services for disabled
A group representing 5,000 disabled Minnesota residents received a nod from a federal judge to proceed with its class-action lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
18. Anthem requests separate trial from Aetna-Humana
Indianapolis-based Anthem asked the U.S. Department of Justice to disconnect its case from a jointly filed lawsuit against Aetna and Humana.
19. University of California settles spine surgery lawsuits for $8.5M
University of California officials agreed to pay approximately $8.5 million to settle two lawsuits alleging a UCLA Health spine surgeon failed to disclose his conflicts of interest with a devicemaker before using its products in two surgeries.
20. Whistle-blower drops suit against KU Hospital, but patient refuses to release hospital of liability
A University of Kansas Hospital physician voluntarily withdrew his whistle-blower lawsuit against the hospital, stating he is "no longer afraid of retaliation."
21. New vaccination law draws federal lawsuits in California
A new California law designed to bolster immunization requirements for school children has inspired at least three lawsuits.
More articles on health law:
5 latest False Claims Act settlements
11 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements