From a physician pleading guilty for his role in a $60 million fraud scheme to a Florida health system hit with a $100 million defamation suit, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits making headlines.
1. Physician pleads guilty in $60M fraud scheme allegedly linked to patient deaths
A physician at Novus, a shuttered hospice provider in Frisco, Texas, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for his role in a $60 million fraud scheme that federal prosecutors say involved fatally overdosing patients for profit.
2. New York hospital says patient fraudulently kept $1.5M insurance payment
Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., recently filed a lawsuit against a patient who allegedly improperly retained $1.5 million in insurance payments that should have been sent to the hospital.
3. HHS sued over delay in drug pricing transparency regulations
The American Hospital Association and six other health organizations sued HHS for delaying the implementation of rules that would force drug companies to be open about their pricing and punish them for overcharging participants in a federal drug discount program.
4. Dignity Health's timekeeping software denies nurses overtime pay, lawsuit alleges
Three nurses, who all worked for San Francisco-based Dignity Health at one time, filed a lawsuit against the health system Sept. 10, alleging seven of its regional hospitals denied them overtime pay.
5. Orlando Health hit with $100M defamation suit by fired physician
A Florida plastic surgeon filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Orlando (Fla.) Health Aug. 21, alleging he was fired and made the target of a smear campaign for pointing out unethical and illegal conduct between Orlando Health and Allergan, a pharmaceutical company.
6. Ex-New York hospital CEO's severance package focus of criminal probe
The Onondaga County District Attorney's office and the New York Inspector General are investigating SUNY's Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.
7. Judge allows U of Iowa to defer debt payment to children's hospital contractor until appeal is settled
A U.S. District judge ruled that Iowa City-based University of Iowa doesn't have to pay any portion of the millions it owes the contractor of its Stead Family Children's Hospital until a higher court settles its appeal.
8. Ex-Wash U med school leader indicted in $300K embezzlement case
A former official at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis was indicted on six counts of mail fraud Sept. 6.
9. Montana health insurer wins lawsuit over cost-sharing reduction payments
A federal judge ruled Sept. 4 that health insurers are entitled to unpaid cost-sharing reduction payments, which help insurers subsidize the cost of coverage for low-income Americans.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
CHS, Quorum say investors weren't duped into buying stock at inflated prices
Minnesota hospital cited for secretly videotaping patients
Physician imposter allegedly diagnosed patient at California hospital