Category: Legal & Regulatory Issues

Illinois man admits swindling hospitals out of $3.4M

An Illinois businessman pleaded guilty March 1 to a federal fraud charge for swindling money from a hospital that paid him for N95 masks in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Justice Department. 

Tennessee physician convicted in $50M fraud scheme

A Tennessee physician and his wife were convicted in a scheme that involved billing health insurance companies for more than $50 million in fraudulent or medically unnecessary services, the Justice Department said March 2. 

Steward Health Care to face patient class action alleging racketeering, fraud

Dallas-based Steward Health Care will face a class-action lawsuit alleging that the system overbilled patients or demanded payments from third parties not responsible for the bills, a federal court ruled Feb. 25. 

Steward Health Care to face patient class action alleging racketeering, fraud

Dallas-based Steward Health Care will face a class-action lawsuit alleging that the system overbilled patients or demanded payments from third parties not responsible for the bills, a federal court ruled Feb. 25. 

Hartford HealthCare seeks dismissal of antitrust lawsuit: 5 things to know

Hartford HealthCare filed a motion Feb. 23 to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit by St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center — both based in Hartford, Conn. — that claims Hartford HealthCare engaged in unfair competition.

UnitedHealth-Change deal battles roadblocks: A timeline

Since UnitedHealth Group said it intended to acquire health technology company Change Healthcare in January 2021, both provider advocates and regulators have pushed back against the $13 billion deal.

Texas physician pays $504K to settle excessive billing case

A primary care physician in Mission, Texas, paid the federal government $504,588 to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department said Feb. 24.

5 recent hospital lawsuits, settlements

From a Massachusetts hospital settling a whistleblower case to a Washington-based health system facing a suit over its collection tactics, here are the latest hospital lawsuits and settlements making headlines. 

Washington sues Providence over collection tactics 

Washington state’s attorney general has filed suit against Providence, alleging that 14 of its hospitals engaged in aggressive tactics to collect payment, failed to ensure discounts for eligible low-income patients, and steered poor patients to debt co…

Justice Department sues to block $13B UnitedHealth, Change deal

The Justice Department on Feb. 24 filed a lawsuit challenging UnitedHealth Group’s planned acquisition of health technology company Change Healthcare.