From a health system in North Carolina settling a false billing case to a former health insurance CFO being sentenced to prison for embezzlement, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. Reliant Care Group to pay $8.3M to resolve false claims allegations
Reliant Care Group, a Maryland Heights, Mo.-based nursing home operator, agreed to pay $8.3 million to settle allegations it submitted false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary physical, speech and occupational therapy provided to nursing home residents.
2. Hospice company settles false billing case for $2M
Compassionate Care of Gwynedd, a hospice provider based in Bensalem, Pa., agreed to pay $2 million to settle a case alleging it provided medically unnecessary hospice services.
3. Insurers countersue Novant for allegedly taking excessive fees from employee retirement plans
Two insurers filed countersuits against Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health arguing they are not obligated to pay into the health system's settlement of an employee class-action lawsuit.
4. Medical biller sentenced to 4+ years in prison for role in $7.3M fraud scheme
A medical biller in the Detroit area was sentenced June 30 to 50 months in prison for her role in a $7.3 million healthcare fraud scheme.
5. Ex-health insurance CFO gets prison time for embezzling $631k
The former CFO of Soundpath Health, a health insurance company based in Federal Way, Wash., was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for embezzling funds from the insurer.
6. Carolinas Healthcare to pay $6.5M to settle false billing case
Charlotte, N.C.-based Carolinas Healthcare System agreed to pay the federal government $6.5 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the health system violated the False Claims Act.
7. Oklahoma AG files suit over opioid epidemic
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter filed a lawsuit against drugmakers for allegedly engaging in a fraudulent opioid advertising campaign that contributed to the rising rates of opioid overdoses in the state.
8. NorthShore asks court to dismiss class-action suit over hospital tax exemptions
Evanston, Ill.-based NorthShore University HealthSystem asked a Cook County judge to dismiss a class-action lawsuit that demands repayment from hospitals for alleged erroneous tax exemptions.
9. Wisconsin court rules cap on medical malpractice payouts unconstitutional
A three-judge panel of Wisconsin's First District Court of Appeals ruled that the state's $750,000 cap on medical malpractice payouts is unconstitutional.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
LA hospital operator to pay $42M to settle physician kickback case
Shuttered NC hospital to pay $1M to settle lawsuit over improper layoff notifications
FCC fines man $120M for robocall spree that interfered with hospital communications network