From a physician charged with 26 counts of healthcare fraud to Minnesota suing three insulin makers, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.
1. 2 physicians, 3 nurses sentenced to prison for role in $11M billing scheme
Two physicians in Dallas and three nurses were sentenced to prison Oct. 16 for their roles in an $11.3 million Medicare fraud scheme.
2. USC proposes $240M settlement of gynecologist sexual abuse case
The University of Southern California in Los Angeles reached a $240 million settlement in principle to resolve sexual abuse allegations against George Tyndall, MD, a former USC gynecologist, according to attorneys representing USC students and alumni.
3. Physician charged with 26 counts of healthcare fraud
A Florida physician faces 26 charges of healthcare fraud related to claims submitted to the government and commercial insurers dating as far back as 2014.
4. 7 pharmacies indicted in $1B telemedicine fraud scheme
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee unsealed a 32-count indictment charging four individuals and seven companies in a more than $1 billion healthcare fraud scheme on Oct. 12.
5. Aetna to pay $4.3M in attorney fees related to HIV privacy breach
Aetna agreed to pay $4.3 million to attorneys who represented plaintiffs of a class-action lawsuit concerning an inadvertent disclosure of their HIV status.
6. 20 generic drugmakers must answer price-fixing lawsuit
A Pennsylvania federal court judge rejected motions from 20 generic drugmakers to toss out a lawsuit accusing them of engaging in unlawful schemes to fix, maintain and stabilize prices for certain generic pharmaceutical products.
7. Minnesota sues 3 insulin makers, alleges price-gouging of diabetes patients
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is suing three major pharmaceutical companies that make insulin in the U.S. — Sanofi-Aventis, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly — for the alleged price-gouging of people with diabetes who need the lifesaving drug. Minnesota is the first state to take legal action over the issue.
8. Former healthcare company CEO to face sentencing in $150M fraud scheme
A former healthcare company CEO pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money- laundering charges for his part in a $150 million fraud scheme that federal prosecutors say involved the unnecessary prescription of millions of opioids and the administration of medically unnecessary, harmful injections.
9. Sutter Health seeks pricing information in antitrust case
Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health confirmed it seeks pricing and payer contract information from other area hospitals to defend itself against antitrust allegations.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
Texas hospital co-founder admits bribing physicians as part of $200M billing scheme
Kentucky hospital's ex-chief of staff fails to halt $361M sale to Baptist Health
Hospital management company CEO wants money, property released amid investigation