This is a roundup of recently filed healthcare industry lawsuits, lawsuit updates and legal settlements that have been reported in the last two weeks, beginning with the most recent.
1. Former VA Official Pleads Guilty in $1.4M Fraud Scheme
The former Deputy Chief of Veterans Claims in the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, David Clark, pleaded guilty to extortion in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $1.4 million in veterans benefits.
2. Halifax Health Reaches $1M Tentative Agreement in Whistle-Blower Case
Daytona Beach, Fla.-based Halifax Health reached a $1 million tentative agreement that would resolve the second part of the lawsuit brought against the healthcare organization under the qui tam, or whistle-blower, provision of the False Claims Act.
3. UnitedHealth Group Sues California's Insurance Commissioner Over $173M Fine
UnitedHealth Group sued
4. Carthage Area Hospital Settles Overbilling Allegations
One day after the federal government filed suit, Carthage (N.Y.)
5. Emblem Health to Pay up to $31M Over Wrongfully Denied Mental Health Claims
New York City-based health insurer Emblem Health agreed to pay a $1.2 million civil penalty and reimburse its members up to $31 million for mental health claims that were wrongfully denied.
6. Government Intervenes in False Claims Act Case Against New York Hospitals
The government intervened in a False Claims Act lawsuit filed against hospitals in
7. Anthem Blue Cross Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Fraudulent Enrollment Practices
A class-action lawsuit was filed against Anthem Blue Cross alleging the company provided misinformation to millions of insurance enrollees concerning out-of-network coverage and in-network provider lists.
8. Lawsuit Filed Over D.C. Health Exchange Tax
The American Council of Life Insurers filed a lawsuit against the D.C Health Benefit Exchange Authority challenging the constitutionality of a tax on insurers meant to fund the D.C. health insurance exchange.
9. SCOTUS Issues Second Hit to Contraceptive Mandate
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an injunction allowing Wheaton (Ill.) College, a nonprofit Christian college, to stop providing contraception under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and to bypass filing a form with its insurer asserting its religious objections for doing so.
10. House Seeks Dismissal of SEC Lawsuit
The House asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed against it by the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning insider trading in insurance companies that occurred in 2013.
11. 5 Tenet, HMA Hospitals Face False Claims, Anti-Kickback Allegations
A federal judge ruled a lawsuit alleging violations of the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute against five healthcare facilities located in Georgia and South Carolina owned by Tenet and Health Management Associates will proceed.
12. Detroit Physician Pleads Guilty to Role in $7M Medicare Fraud Scheme
Walayat Khan, MD, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud in connection with his role in a $7 million Medicare fraud scheme
More Articles on Lawsuits Affecting the Healthcare Industry:
House Lawsuit Against President Obama Over PPACA: 5 Things to Know
AHA Testifies at House Hearing on VA Healthcare
Despite Hobby Lobby Ruling, Contraceptive Coverage Remains Mostly Unaffected