Category: Legal & Regulatory Issues

Florida health system lobbyist charged with theft, placed on leave

Hollywood, Fla.-based Memorial Healthcare System has placed an employee on unpaid administrative leave and launched an internal investigation after learning of allegations against the employee from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.

Ex-Illinois hospital COO pleads guilty in fraud scheme

An attorney who worked as a vice president and COO of an Illinois hospital pleaded guilty Jan. 22 to a federal fraud charge. 

7 HIPAA predictions for 2024

Even 28 years after President Bill Clinton signed HIPAA into law, many of its rules have remained difficult for HIPAA-regulated entities, according to a Jan. 22 HIPAA Journal report.

Florida Senate passes $800M legislation to bolster healthcare access

The Florida Senate approved an $800 million legislative package meant to strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce and advance access to care.

Seattle Children's mold lawsuit kicks off new trial

A trial has begun in a class-action lawsuit against Seattle Children’s hospital from families who claim mold in the hospital made 14 young people sick and resulted in the death of seven patients, KING5 reported Jan. 22. 

1 Oklahoma hospital has filed 5,000 debt collection cases

McAlester (Okla.) Regional Medical Center is facing criticism for its debt collection practices, KFF Health News reported Jan. 19.

OU Health did not violate EMTALA in abortion case: HHS

HHS has determined that OU Health providers did not violate the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act when they denied an abortion to a woman with a nonviable pregnancy in early 2023, according to information obtained by the Associated Press. 

UPMC faces antitrust lawsuit

A former employee has filed a lawsuit against Pittsburgh-based UPMC, accusing the health system of anticompetitive conduct that harms skilled nursing staff, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Jan. 19.

Nurse accused of dispensing morphine that led to death

A Utah nurse has been indicted for allegedly distributing and dispensing morphine that led to a person’s death last summer.

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes gets 90-year ban from HHS

HHS has banned Elizabeth Holmes, incarcerated founder of blood-testing company Theranos, from participating in any federal healthcare program for the next 90 years.