Category: Legal & Regulatory Issues

Ex-nurse sentenced for opioid scheme at Montana hospital

Caitlin Ashley Evans, a former nurse who admitted to diverting opioids while working at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, Mont., has been sentenced to three years of probation. 

Colorado bill to end facility fees rolled back

Colorado House Bill 23-1215, legislation that originally proposed a ban on hospital facility fees for care provided outside a hospital, is being rolled back to just ban facility fees for telehealth services, preventive services and primary care, The De…

ivermectin4covid.com is violating drug law, FDA warns

The site www.ivermectin4covid.com, which touted ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment despite a lack of clinical evidence, is temporarily suspended after the FDA warned the site of violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Maryland hospital, imaging group pay $2M to settle false claims allegations

Lanham, Md.-based Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center and Diagnostic Imaging Associates have agreed to pay more than $2 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act. 

MetroHealth wants former CEO's firing claims dismissed

The MetroHealth System in Cleveland and its board of trustees have filed a motion to dismiss retaliation and intimidation claims from its former president and CEO, Law360 reported March 20. Akram Boutros, MD, was fired after allegedly authori…

Kentucky governor signs bill to boost funding for rural healthcare providers

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed into law a measure that will boost Medicaid payment rates for outpatient procedures, legislation designed to protect rural hospitals in the state.

Spectrum Health to pay $6M to settle alleged ERISA violations

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Spectrum Health has agreed to pay $6 million to settle an alleged violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Pension and Investments reported March 20.

Lawmakers question safety of HCA Florida hospital

Two lawmakers are seeking information from the CEO of an HCA Florida hospital about its care quality and working conditions after a news report with troubling allegations. 

Physician, pharmacist sentenced for a $515M pain cream scheme

A physician and pharmacist were sentenced in a pain cream scheme that cost healthcare benefit providers more than $515 million in Mississippi, Clarion Ledger March 10.

Colorado bill would require nonprofit hospitals spend 3% of revenue on community benefit

New legislation proposed in the Colorado House of Representatives would require nonprofit hospitals to spend 3 percent of their revenue on community benefit, with the target eventually rising to 5 percent, The Denver Post reported March 20.