From patients filing lawsuits alleging hospitals in Memphis, Tenn., engage in illegal billing practices to a Miami physician pleading guilty in a kickback scheme, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. UnitedHealth seeks dismissal in whistle-blower case alleging Medicare fraud
Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group requested a whistle-blower case alleging the payer inflated Medicare reimbursements by providing false information on members' health statuses be dismissed.
2. Lawsuits allege Memphis hospitals engage in illegal billing practices
Former patients filed lawsuits against several hospitals in Memphis, Tenn., alleging the hospitals attempt to collect payment from patients for debts that have already been satisfied by payers.
3. VNS Choice to pay $4.4M for improper collection of Medicaid payments
New York City-based VNS Choice will pay $4.4 million to settle a civil fraud lawsuit alleging it collected payments from Medicaid beneficiaries that should have been removed from its managed long-term care plan.
4. California Supreme Court rules Medical boards can obtain patient records without warrant
The California Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state's medical board can acquire and examine patient records without a warrant.
5. Miami physician pleads guilty to role in $4.8M Medicare, opioid kickback scheme
A Miami physician pleaded guilty in federal court for participating in a $4.8 million Medicare false claims and kickback scheme.
6. Anthem sues Insys Therapeutics for alleged $19M in fraudulent opioid payments
Indianapolis-based Anthem sued Insys Therapeutics in Chandler, Ariz., for allegedly issuing kickbacks to physicians and misrepresenting diagnoses to inflate reimbursement.
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