From a former hospital CEO facing criminal charges in a billing fraud case to a California hospital settling a discrimination lawsuit, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Ex-Missouri hospital CEO faces criminal charges in $114M billing fraud case
David Byrns, the former CEO of Putnam County Memorial Hospital in Unionville, Mo., was charged in a billing fraud scheme that came to light in 2017.
2. Rady Children's settles suit over use of incorrect pronouns for transgender patient
San Diego-based Rady Children's Hospital settled a civil suit in which the mother of a transgender boy alleged staff members violated federal discrimination laws by using female pronouns when referring to the patient, who killed himself six weeks later.
3. Pennsylvania surgeon settles false billing allegations for $4.25M
A Pennsylvania surgeon agreed to pay $4.25 million to resolve allegations related to kickbacks and false billing.
4. Kentucky hospital's ex-chief of staff can't stop $361M sale to Baptist Health
A three-judge panel from the Kentucky Court of Appeals tossed out a lawsuit filed in 2018 that sought to stop Louisville, Ky.-based Baptist Health from acquiring Elizabethtown, Ky.-based Hardin Memorial Hospital.
5. 9 physicians charged in $2.1B healthcare fraud scheme
Thirty-five people, including nine physicians, associated with dozens of telemedicine companies and cancer genetic testing laboratories were charged for their alleged roles in one of the largest healthcare fraud schemes ever.
6. Judge backs Philadelphia's supervised injection site
A federal judge on Oct. 2 ruled that Philadelphia's proposed supervised injection site does not violate federal law, representing a landmark decision that could alter how opioid use disorder is treated in the U.S.
7. J&J, 2 Ohio counties reach $20M opioid settlement
Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $20.4 million to avoid the first federal trial that accuses the drugmaker of fueling the opioid epidemic.
8. Avanir Pharmaceuticals to pay $116M to settle bribery charges
Avanir Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay $116 million to settle a lawsuit alleging it illegally marketed its drug Nuedexta.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
Feds charge physicians, healthcare execs in $675M billing fraud bust
Dignity Health agrees to $570K settlement in discrimination case
Alabama hospital, former executive settle false billing case