Health Care
COVID-19: Natural Disaster or Contractual Quandary?
NewsAs the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic is no longer considered ‘unprecedented’ and the restrictions associated with the pandemic have become a part of ‘the new abnormal.’
McKinsey to Pay $573M to Settle Role in Opioid Crisis
NewsGlobal consultancy firm McKinsey & Company has agreed to pay $573 to settle claims by more than 40 US states related to its role in the nation’s opioid epidemic.
Anthem Agrees to Pay $594M to Settle Antitrust Litigation
NewsThe settlement, struck last fall and awaiting final approval in an Alabama federal court, resolves lawsuits filed in 2012 by insurance customers alleging the Chicago-based Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and the nation’s 36 Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurers violated antitrust laws through practices that limited competition and caused higher prices.
Fifth Circuit Vacates $4.3M HIPAA Penalty, Potentially Opening the Door for Future HIPAA Enforcement Challenges
NewsWith a notably sharply worded opinion, the Fifth Circuit recently vacated over $4.3 million in penalties levied against the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (M.D. Anderson) by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for a series of alleged HIPAA violations.
Fourth Circuit Refuses to Reduce Record-Breaking $32.7M Asbestos Verdict
NewsThe $32.7 million verdict in Finch is reportedly the largest single-plaintiff verdict and the largest mesothelioma-related verdict in North Carolina history.
Banner Health to Pay OCR $200K for HIPAA Right of Access Failures
NewsThe Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights reached a $200,000 civil monetary penalty and a corrective action plan with Banner Health, to resolve potential violations of the HIPAA Privacy Rule Right of Access standard.
HIPAA Safe Harbor Bill Becomes Law; Requires HHS to Incentivize Security
NewsThe HIPAA Safe Harbor bill amends the HITECH act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to incentivize best practice cybersecurity for meeting HIPAA requirements.
HHS Proposed HIPAA Changes: 7 Things to Know
NewsU.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced proposed changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule to support individuals’ engagement in their care, remove barriers to coordinated care, and reduce regulatory burdens on the health care industry.
UnitedHealth Hires Legal Chief as Pandemic Disrupts Business
NewsUnitedHealth Group Inc. announced Friday its hire of Matthew Friedrich as chief legal officer, a role he will assume Jan. 11, as the managed health care and insurance company copes with the ongoing fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Purdue’s Massive Opioid Settlement is Tangled in a Bankruptcy Court Fight
NewsPurdue Pharma’s massive settlement over claims that it helped spark the opioid crisis is facing pushback in federal court, creating a potential stumbling block for the landmark deal.
Begley Awarded $1.8M in Settlement
NewsAssistant Chief Mark Begley was awarded a $1.84 million lawsuit settlement against the County of Kaua‘i and Kaua‘i Police Department.
Johnson & Johnson’s $2B Talc Verdict Stands
NewsJohnson & Johnson has been defending against claims its talc-based powders cause cancers for years, and, with a new ruling against the drugmaker in Missouri, it’s preparing to challenge a massive verdict at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Memphis Physicians Agree to Pay More Than $340,000 for Alleged Overbilling
NewsDoctor Shoaib Qureshi, Doctor Imran Mirza, Memphis Primary Care Specialists, Lunceford Family Health Center, and Getwell Family Medicine agreed to pay $341,690 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly charging Medicare for services rendered by nurse practitioners at the higher reimbursement rate for physician services.
Anthem to Pay $594M Share in Pending Blues Plan Antitrust Settlement
NewsAnthem is paying a substantial portion of Blues plans’ tentative antitrust settlement, which is estimated to be nearly $3 billion.
Medical Device Manufacturer Agrees to $18M Settlement on Kickback Scheme
NewsMedical device maker Merit Medical Systems Inc. (MMSI) has agreed to pay $18 million to resolve allegations that it caused the submission of false claims to the Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare programs by paying kickbacks to physicians and hospitals to induce the use of MMSI products.
OxyContin Maker Pleads Guilty, and Will Pay $8B and Close Company
NewsPurdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, has agreed to plead guilty to three federal criminal charges for its role in creating the nation’s opioid crisis and will pay more than $8 billion and close down the company.
Opioid Manufacturer Mallinckrodt Agrees to $1.6B Settlement
NewsGeneric opioid manufacturer Mallinckrodt has agreed to a $1.6 billion settlement to resolve a host of lawsuits that arose in response to tens of thousands of deadly opioid overdoses nationwide fueled, in part, by prescription drugs.
Class Settlement of Florida Hospital Overcharge Suit Approved
NewsMayo Clinic Jacksonville and a proposed class of 371 patients it treated for motor vehicle accident injuries received preliminary approval of a settlement involving claims the health-care provider overcharged them.
Johnson & Johnson to Pay $100M in Baby Powder Settlement
NewsJohnson & Johnson will pay out over $100 million to settle more than 1000 lawsuits that claim the pharmaceutical giant’s baby powder caused cancer.
Baltimore Attorney Facing Federal Indictment for Attempted Extortion
NewsA federal grand jury has indicted Stephen L. Snyder, age 72, of Miami Beach, Florida, on the federal charges of attempted extortion and interstate travel and use of an interstate facility to carry on unlawful activity, also known as the Travel Act.
