Category: Legal & Regulatory Issues

21 charged in $149M COVID-19 fraud schemes: Justice Department

The Justice Department criminally charged 21 people, including physicians, a director of pharmacy and executives of medical clinics, for their alleged participation in scams that exploited COVID-19 and resulted in millions of dollars of fraudulent bill…

HHS to revoke healthcare worker ‘conscience’ rule 

HHS is planning to change a “conscience” rule, enacted during the Trump administration, that allows healthcare workers to refuse service that conflicts with their moral or religious beliefs, reported Politico April 19. 

Jury acquits Ohio physician accused of 14 patient deaths

William Husel, a former physician at Columbus, Ohio-based Mount Carmel Health System, has been found not guilty of murder in a case where he was accused of prescribing excessive painkiller doses to accelerate the death of critically ill patients, NBC N…

Healthcare billing fraud: 11 cases

From an Alabama physician pleading guilty to submitting $28 million in improper bills to the Justice Department intervening in an $800 million fraud case against Memphis, Tenn.-based Methodist Le Bonheur, here are 11 healthcare billing fraud cases that…

Former hospital director accuses WVU Medicine affiliate of compromising patient safety

A former director at West Virginia University Medicine affiliate Princeton Community Hospital is accusing the healthcare institution of violating patient safety and age discrimination laws.

US probing coronavirus aid paid to closed Rennova Health hospital

West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Rennova Health is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department about money it received from HHS provider relief funds and the Paycheck Protection Program for a shuttered Tennessee hospital, according to a recent financi…

Jury deadlocked in murder trial of Ohio physician

Jurors deliberating in the trial of William Husel, MD, a physician facing murder charges for the deaths of 14 hospital patients, said they have hit an impasse and could not reach a verdict April 18, according to CBS News.

DaVita, ex-CEO acquitted in antitrust case

Kent Thiry, former CEO of dialysis giant DaVita, and the company were found not guilty in an antitrust case April 15, reported the Colorado Sun. 

Healthcare staffing firm owner convicted of obstructing FTC wage-fixing investigation

The former owner of a Texas healthcare staffing firm was convicted April 14 of obstructing the Federal Trade Commission’s investigation into wage fixing, according to the Justice Department. 

11 recent healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements

From the Justice Department accusing a Tennessee health system of fraud to a Washington health system agreeing to pay $22.7 million to resolve false claims allegations, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines. …