The following is a roundup of recently reported healthcare industry legal settlements, lawsuits and lawsuit updates, starting with the most recent.
1. Cleveland Clinic accused of Medicare fraud in False Claims Act lawsuit
Cleveland Clinic was hit with a federal False Claims Act lawsuit alleging the system performs unnecessary medical tests and procedures on patients for financial gain.
2. South Shore Physician Hospital Organization settles kickback lawsuit for $1.78M
South Shore Physician Hospital Organization in Weymouth, Mass., agreed to pay $1.78 million to settle allegations it paid kickbacks to its physician members in exchange for patient referrals.
3. Supreme Court case could generate tidal wave of healthcare fraud cases
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in a lawsuit involving the application of the Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act to False Claims Act cases — an issue that has the potential to spur more healthcare fraud lawsuits.
4. Singing River Health System sues KPMG over colossal auditing error
Pascagoula, Miss.-based Singing River Health System filed a lawsuit against KPMG claiming the national accounting firm made significant auditing errors, including "masking" the underfunding of the system's pension plan.
5. Supreme Court rejects new challenge to PPACA
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's individual mandate.
6. New Jersey pharmaceutical company settles kickback lawsuit for $39M
Daiichi Sankyo, a global pharmaceutical company with its U.S. headquarters in Parsippany, N.J., agreed to pay $39 million to the federal government and state Medicaid programs to settle allegations it paid kickbacks to physicians to prescribe its drugs.
7. Medical College of Wisconsin pays $840k to settle FCA allegations
Milwaukee-based Medical College of Wisconsin agreed to pay the federal government $840,000 to settle allegations it violated the False Claims Act by improperly billing federal healthcare programs for procedures involving medical residents that did not receive proper supervision.
More articles on health law:
New bill introduced to overturn PPACA's individual mandate
VA offers relief to whistle-blowers who suffered retaliation
Prominent cardiologist receives hefty pay cut, required to treat poor patients