From the Department of Justice charging three people in a $1 billion Medicare fraud scheme to an appeals court reviving an antitrust suit against Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Physician will pay $8M for giving healthy patients chemo
Farid Fata, MD, a Detroit-area hematologist-oncologist, will pay $8 million to resolve malpractice lawsuits alleging he purposely misdiagnosed patients with cancer and administered unnecessary chemotherapy to healthy patients.
2. Appeals court revives lawsuits against UPMC over hep C outbreak
A Pennsylvania appeals court panel has ruled that six people who contracted hepatitis C from a former UPMC worker should be allowed to present their case against the Pittsburgh-based system to a jury.
3. Owner of Arkansas juvenile mental health facilities convicted of bribery
The owner of two Arkansas mental health companies was convicted on two counts of bribery for attempting to sway the former deputy director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
4. Lexington Medical Center settles federal civil lawsuit for $17M
West Columbia, S.C.-based Lexington Medical Center agreed to settle a federal civil lawsuit for $17 million.
5. Former healthcare employee pleads guilty to identity theft using patient information
A former healthcare employee pled guilty to multiple counts of identity theft and wire fraud after stealing patient information protected under HIPAA
6. Judge: Missouri senator, wife can decline state insurance due to birth control coverage
A federal judge ruled that Sen. Paul Wieland (R-Mo.) and his wife can opt out of the state's health insurance plan due to its coverage of contraception, which conflicts with the Wieland's religious beliefs
7. Physician sued for allegedly enabling son to commit statutory rape
Patrick J. Miller, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in Aberdeen, S.D., is accused of allowing his 30-year-old son, a registered sex offender, to participate in unlawful sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl.
8. Fla. paramedics face charges for taking selfies with unconscious patients
Two Florida paramedics were arrested over allegations they participated in a selfie competition by taking pictures with incapacitated patients being transported to hospitals.
9. DOJ charges 3 people for $1B Medicare fraud scheme
The Department of Justice charged a hospital administrator, physician's assistant and owner of more than 30 Miami-based nursing and assisted living facilities in connection with a $1 billion Medicare fraud and money laundering scheme.
10. DOJ, states sue Anthem, Aetna to block mega deals: 7 things to know
The Department of Justice and attorneys general from several states filed lawsuits against Anthem and Aetna out of concern their proposed acquisitions would impede health insurance competition.
11. Houston physician gets 5-year prison term for fraud
Houston physician Warren Daily, MD, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for his role in a healthcare fraud and kickback scheme.
12. Latest Theranos lawsuit alleges patient harm from faulty blood test
A federal lawsuit filed in Arizona alleges a Theranos blood test led to a former customer having a heart attack.
13. Maryland court dismisses CareFirst data breach lawsuit citing insufficient demonstration of injury
A district court in Maryland granted CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield's motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit filed against the payer regarding a data breach that exposed data of 1.1 million members, saying the plaintiffs' argument does not sufficiently indicate any harm.
14. Barbara Dawson's family sues Calhoun Liberty Hospital
Barbara Dawson died after being forcibly removed from Calhoun Liberty Hospital last December. Now, her family has filed suit against the Blountstown, Fla.-based hospital.
15. Hospital cleared of wrongdoing after releasing patient hours before fatal rampage
State officials cleared Taunton, Mass.-based Morton Hospital and a contracted employee of any wrongdoing after a patient killed two people and injured five just hours after his discharge.
16. Sources: More than 400 hospitals settle with feds over DSH payment calculations
More than 400 hospitals settled with the federal government, resolving challenges dating as far back as 2010 to HHS' calculations of disproportionate share hospital payments.
17. Houston nurse convicted in $8M Medicare fraud scheme
A federal jury convicted a registered nurse of participating in an $8 million Medicare fraud scheme involving false claims for home health services.
18. Former NFL player sues insurer $3M for denying concussion claims
Haruki Nakamura, former defensive back for the Baltimore Ravens and the Carolina Panthers, sued London-based insurer Llyod's Monday for a total of $3 million in damages and denied benefits after sustaining a career-ending concussion.
19. Appeals court revives antitrust suit against Sutter Health
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed and remanded an antitrust lawsuit alleging Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health used its market power to force illegal tying arrangements and anti-steering clauses upon health plans.
20. Anesthesiologist sues Kaiser, alleges cost-cutting measures put patients at risk
A former anesthesiologist with Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, Ore., filed a $9 million lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente, alleging his employment was terminated after he repeatedly complained about the adverse impact of cost-cutting measures on patient safety.
21. Consumers lob class-action lawsuit at Blue Shield of Calif. over medical loss ratio
Two Blue Shield of California policyholders filed a class-action lawsuit against their insurer, alleging the company owes consumers millions of dollars in rebates after misreporting its medical loss ratio in 2014.
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Ex-hospital CFO heads to jail for grand theft