From an Aetna investor suing over the insurer's proposed merger with CVS Health to a former hospital administrator sentenced in a bribery scheme, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Federal judge approves Ascension Health's $29.5M settlement in class-action pension lawsuit
Ascension Health, a Catholic health system based in St. Louis, will pay $29.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging the health system and subsidiary Wheaton Franciscan Services in Glendale, Wis., violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
2. Aetna investor sues over $77B merger with CVS Health: 7 things to know
Aetna shareholders will be shortchanged if the company moves forward with a proposed $77 billion merger with CVS Health, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by an Aetna investor.
3. Former CHI hospital administrator sentenced in bribery scheme
Lexington, Ky.-based Saint Joseph Hospital's former executive director of facilities, James Newton, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for his role in a bribery and kickback scheme.
4. Aetna agrees to pay $17M to settle HIV data breach incident
Aetna reached a $17 million settlement to resolve a federal class-action lawsuit filed in August after the insurer revealed thousands of customers' HIV statuses in mailings.
5. Former Allina VP charged with 7 counts of theft
A former vice president of Minneapolis-based Allina Health is accused of embezzling $269,000 from the health system.
6. Patient sues Northwestern Memorial for reusing syringe on him
An Illinois man sued Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial Hospital, claiming clinicians reused a syringe on him that was previously administered to an HIV-positive patient.
7. Former CEO of Lutheran Health Network seeks dismissal of CHS' lawsuit
Brian Bauer, former CEO of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Health Network, filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses him of breach of contract and defamation.
8. 5 nursing homes sue Illinois over low Medicaid rates
Five Illinois nursing home operators filed a lawsuit against the state's Department of Healthcare and Family Services claiming Illinois' Medicaid rates are inadequate.
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