Try our Advanced Search for more refined results
Health
-
October 17, 2024
Sen. Report Slams Insurers For Medicare Advantage Denials
A trio of major Medicare Advantage insurers are driving profits by denying coverage for patient stays at "costly but critical" facilities for those recovering from injuries and illnesses, according to a report issued Thursday by a Congressional committee.
-
October 17, 2024
No Privilege For Drug Discount Co. Accused Of Faking Deal
A Colorado federal judge held Wednesday that he saw probable cause that a drug discounter hired an attorney with the intent to commit fraud, ordering that company to disclose privileged documents in a lawsuit alleging it faked an acquisition to dupe an Illinois-based pharmacy benefit company into paying higher commissions.
-
October 17, 2024
Health Co. Must Face State Farm Settlement Interpretation Suit
An automobile-accident-focused healthcare company can't escape State Farm's lawsuit claiming the facility breached a settlement agreement by failing to drop hundreds of personal injury protection suits, a Florida federal court ruled.
-
October 17, 2024
Seyfarth Hit With $8M Suit For Botched Wage Class Settlement
Seyfarth Shaw LLP owes a physician practice almost $8 million for negligently removing hundreds of the practice's employees from a list of those entitled to part of a $4.9 million wage and hour settlement, costing the practice another $3.6 million to correct the mistake, according to a California suit.
-
October 17, 2024
Texas Sues Doctor For Providing Kids Gender-Affirming Care
The state of Texas sued a pediatrician Thursday, alleging she broke state law by providing gender-affirming care to children.
-
October 16, 2024
BetterHelp Can't Ax Suit Over Sharing Data With Advertisers
A California federal judge has trimmed but refused to completely toss a consolidated putative class action accusing online counseling platform BetterHelp Inc. of unlawfully disclosing consumers' confidential information to third parties for advertising purposes, finding that newly added details boosted several of the plaintiffs' claims.
-
October 16, 2024
Indiana U. Hit With Sex Abuse Claims Over Sports Doc Exams
Indiana University has been accused in a new lawsuit of turning a blind eye to the sexual misconduct of a longtime physician for the IU men's basketball team who allegedly routinely assaulted student athletes.
-
October 16, 2024
Philips Says $12M Sanction Needed For Evidence Destruction
A spoliation sanctions hearing for around $12 million in royalty damages turned terse when the owner of a medical device equipment sale and servicing company seemingly hedged his statements, with a Texas federal judge saying, "Oh my gosh, just answer the question," during the Wednesday hearing.
-
October 16, 2024
Conn. Nurses Sue To Block Forced Post-Contract Overtime
A union representing nurses at a Hartford HealthCare-affiliated hospital in Norwich, Connecticut, has asked a state superior court judge to block mandatory overtime assignments, arguing that a 2020 union contract requiring such shifts expired over the summer and that a 2023 state statute bans the hospital's continuing practices.
-
October 16, 2024
Sudanese Men Charged With Hacking Cedars-Sinai, Microsoft
California federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that two Sudanese brothers have been charged with operating a prolific hacking group that orchestrated tens of thousands of politically motivated cyberattacks against worldwide government agencies, Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and companies including Microsoft, PayPal, Google and Netflix.
-
October 16, 2024
Ex-Pharma Co. Employee Traded On GSK Deal Info, SEC Says
The former director of analytical development at Canada-based drug company Bellus Health Inc. has agreed to pay the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over $120,000 to settle claims that he sold shares on nonpublic information about pharma giant GSK's impending takeover of his company, according to court filings.
-
October 16, 2024
SEC To Settle Claims CBD Exec Took $13M From Hospital
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is ready to make a deal with a former cannabidiol products executive accused of taking $13 million from a hospital after falsely promising to deliver urgently needed masks during the height of the pandemic.
-
October 16, 2024
Alphatec Investor Seeks $9.5M Atty Fee After Chancery Win
A family office investment company that recently won a five-year battle over millions worth of securities purchase rights not honored by a surgical and medical device developer asked Delaware's Court of Chancery on Wednesday to shift more than $9.5 million in fees and expenses to the developer.
-
October 16, 2024
Caremark, Optum Say FTC Insulin Case Gets PBMs All Wrong
Caremark Rx, Express Scripts and OptumRx continue to attack the Federal Trade Commission's in-house case accusing the country's three largest pharmacy benefit managers of artificially inflating insulin prices by relying on unfair rebate schemes, arguing the agency's case lacks authority, facts and the right targets.
-
October 16, 2024
Court Tosses Suit Against NJ Cops For Medical Pot Seizure
A New Jersey federal judge tossed a civil rights action Tuesday against a police officer who seized medical marijuana from a registered patient, noting that police could not determine at the time whether the marijuana was lawfully purchased.
-
October 16, 2024
Houston Pharma Exec Found Guilty In $160M Health Fraud
A Houston man was convicted on 15 criminal charges in connection with orchestrating a massive healthcare scheme that defrauded the government out of $160 million, following a 10-day trial in which prosecutors said doctors were "bamboozled" by the conspiracy.
-
October 16, 2024
Lesbian Nurse Says Ga. Hospital's Fertility Plan Is Biased
A lesbian nurse has hit a Georgia hospital and healthcare system with a proposed class action, alleging that the medical plan they offer employees discriminates against homosexual women by charging them more upfront to receive fertility care than women in heterosexual relationships.
-
October 16, 2024
M&A Pros Cautious About Expected Private Equity Surge
It's an oft-repeated line that private equity activity is set to surge amid pressure to exit older investments and deploy record stores of dry powder, but mergers and acquisitions professionals recently surveyed by Dykema were cautious when asked if they expect private equity to boost deal flow in the next 12 months, with a majority saying they only "somewhat agree."
-
October 16, 2024
Feds Say EMTALA Trumps Idaho Abortion Ban In Emergencies
A legal fight over a federal law governing emergency medical care and Idaho's strict abortion ban is back in the Ninth Circuit where the federal government argued that the ban conflicts with the federal statute, but only in narrow circumstances requiring emergency abortions to stabilize a pregnant woman.
-
October 16, 2024
Dermatology Practice Can't Escape Fired Doctor's Bias Suit
A Pennsylvania federal judge refused Wednesday to toss a sex and age discrimination suit from a dermatologist who said she was unlawfully fired by the private equity-backed practice that bought her business, ruling she put forward enough details to keep her claims in play.
-
October 15, 2024
UBH Surprise Billing Fight 'Begs' For Issue Cert., Judge Says
A California federal judge deciding whether to certify classes of patients who allege United Behavioral Health and billing contractor MultiPlan underpaid thousands of claims for out-of-network substance use disorder treatment told counsel Tuesday the case "begs" for issue certification, while adding that the U.S. medical system is "an absolute mess."
-
October 15, 2024
Navajo President Asks Vice President To Resign From Office
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has asked Vice President Richelle Montoya to resign from her position, arguing that her efforts backing a recent petition led by the tribe's former human resources director to recall him from office is the second-in-command's "formal break" from his administration.
-
October 15, 2024
Anti-Abortion Nonprofit Moves To Block NJ AG's Subpoena
An anti-abortion pregnancy center urged a New Jersey federal court Tuesday to immediately block Attorney General Matt Platkin's subpoena seeking information about its donors, arguing it will suffer irreparable harm if it is forced to comply before any of its constitutional claims are considered by the court.
-
October 15, 2024
Feds Seek Court's OK On $350M Norfolk Southern Spill Deal
The federal government has asked an Ohio federal judge to approve a nearly $350 million settlement to close out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's legal claims against Norfolk Southern over the fiery February 2023 train derailment and toxic chemical spill in East Palestine.
-
October 15, 2024
Motley Rice May Avoid DQ In Boston Opioid Case, Judge Hints
A Massachusetts federal judge on Tuesday appeared skeptical of a bid by pharmacy benefit manager OptumRX to disqualify Motley Rice LLC from representing the city of Boston in a lawsuit over the company's alleged role in the opioid crisis.
Expert Analysis
-
Motion To Transfer Venue Considerations For FCA Cases
Several recent decisions highlight the importance for practitioners of analyzing as early as possible whether a False Claims Act case warrants a change of venue, and understanding how courts weigh certain factors for defendants versus whistleblowers, say Ellen London at London & Stout, and Li Yu and Corey Lipton at DiCello Levitt.
-
A Primer On EU's Updated Human Substance Regulations
The European Union's updated standards regarding quality and safety of substances of human origin meant for human application carry significant implications for companies that work with cells and tissues, and U.S. companies active in the EU market should pay particular attention to the import and export rules, say Geneviève Michaux and Georgios Symeonidis at King & Spalding.
-
Series
After Chevron: New Lines Of Attack For FCA Defense Bar
Loper Bright has given defense counsel new avenues to overcome the False Claims Act elements of falsity and scienter, as any FCA claim based upon ambiguous statutory terms can no longer stand solely on agency regulations to establish the statute's meaning, which is itself necessary to satisfy the FCA's basic requirements, says Elisha Kobre at Bradley Arant.
-
CFPB's Medical Debt Proposal May Have Side Effects
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s recent proposal to prevent medical debt information from appearing on consumer reports and creditors from basing lending decisions on such information may have initial benefits for some consumers, but there are potential negative consequences that should also be considered, say attorneys at Cooley.
-
Series
Teaching Scuba Diving Makes Me A Better Lawyer
As a master scuba instructor, I’ve learned how to prepare for the unexpected, overcome fears and practice patience, and each of these skills – among the many others I’ve developed – has profoundly enhanced my work as a lawyer, says Ron Raether at Troutman Pepper.
-
15 Areas That Would Change Under Health Data Rule Proposal
If finalized, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's proposed rule will significantly progress its efforts to advance interoperability, respond to stakeholder concerns and clarify compliance with the health IT certification program, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.
-
The Road Ahead For Regulation Of Digital Twins In Healthcare
Digital replicas of cells, organs and people — known as digital twins — can facilitate clinical trials for new drugs by reducing the number of patients required, but data limitations can create logistical hurdles and regulatory efforts addressing digital twins are still in early stages, say consultants at Keystone Strategy.
-
3 Ways To Lower Insider Trading Risk After First 10b5-1 Case
In light of the U.S. Department of Justice's insider trading prosecution against the former CEO of Ontrack based on alleged abuse of a Rule 10b5-1 safe harbor plan — designed to allow executives to sell their companies' securities without liability — companies and individuals should take steps to avoid enacting similar plans in bad faith, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.
-
Lawyers Can Take Action To Honor The Voting Rights Act
As the Voting Rights Act reaches its 59th anniversary Tuesday, it must urgently be reinforced against recent efforts to dismantle voter protections, and lawyers can pitch in immediately by volunteering and taking on pro bono work to directly help safeguard the right to vote, says Anna Chu at We The Action.
-
PE Firms Should Prepare For Increased False Claims Scrutiny
The impact private equity firms may have over medical decisions and care is increasingly attracting potential liability under the False Claims Act and attention from states and the federal government, so investors should follow best practices including conducting due diligence both before and after acquisitions, say attorneys at K&L Gates.
-
3 Healthcare FCA Deals Provide Self-Disclosure Takeaways
Several civil False Claims Act settlements of alleged healthcare fraud violations over the past year demonstrate that healthcare providers may benefit substantially from voluntarily disclosing potential misconduct to both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, say Brian Albritton and Raquel Ramirez Jefferson at Phelps Dunbar.
-
Series
After Chevron: ERISA Challenges To Watch
The end of Chevron deference makes the outcome of Employee Retirement Income Security Act regulatory challenges more uncertain as courts become final arbiters of pending lawsuits about ESG investments, the definition of a fiduciary, unallocated pension forfeitures and discrimination in healthcare plans, says Evelyn Haralampu at Burns & Levinson.
-
Opinion
Expert Witness Standards Must Consider Peer Review Crisis
For nearly two decades, the so-called replication crisis has upended how the scientific community views the reliability of peer-reviewed studies, and it’s time for courts to reevaluate whether peer review is a trustworthy proxy for expert witness reliability, say Jeffrey Gross and Robert LaCroix at Reid Collins.
-
Takeaways From High Court's Tribal Health Admin Cost Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court's recent determination that the government must reimburse two Native American tribes for administrative healthcare costs will help tribes maintain equal footing with the Indian Health Service when administering programs, and continues a pattern of how the current court aligns on tribal concerns, say attorneys at Lewis Roca.
-
Justices' Intent Witness Ruling May Be Useful For Defense Bar
At first glance, the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Diaz v. U.S. decision, allowing experts to testify to the mental state of criminal defendants in federal court, gives prosecutors a new tool, but creative white collar defense counsel may be able to use the same tool to their own advantage, say Jack Sharman and Rachel Bragg at Lightfoot Franklin.