Legal News

Stories about physicians and other healthcare professionals involved in lawsuits—as either a plaintiff or a defendantor accused of breaking the law. Various legal updates or unusual stories in the news may land here.

Nurse in Handcuffs

Nurse charged with severely injuring several babies on NICU ward

Erin Strotman, 26, has been charged in a 12-count indictment for incidents of alleged neglect and abuse. Her license to practice nursing has also been suspended, pending trial. 

Humana

DOJ sues Aetna, Humana and Elevance for allegedly paying illegal kickbacks

The three insurance giants are accused of conspiring with brokers to enroll profitable patients in Medicare Advantage plans, in exchange for "hundreds of millions" in kickbacks.

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Patients sue West Coast private radiology practice over recent cyber incident

Attorneys are targeting Northwest Radiologists and the related Mount Baker Imaging, who allegedly failed to protect patient info before a January data breach. 

Phoenix Arizona Downtown

Phoenix-based addiction treatment facility operated out of motel with no running water

Local investigative reporters have uncovered details on a scheme in which patients housed at a seedy motel received treatment for drug abuse as part of a massive Medicare fraud operation. 

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Patients sue Alabama regulators for access to medical marijuana

Lawsuits filed against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission claim the agency has failed to develop the necessary database to license and certify providers in the state, effectively making medical cannabis inaccessible. The law allowing for medical marijuana use passed in 2021. 

U.S. Supreme Court building SCOTUS

Supreme Court sides with HHS in hospital payment dispute

In a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court affirmed the formula used by the federal government to calculate Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments is legal and consistent with the law passed by Congress. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. RFK HHS secretary

HHS sued over RFK’s $11B cuts to infectious disease control

The Department of Health and Human Services is refusing to allocate funds meant to support state and local healthcare initiatives, as the money stemmed from now-defunct COVID-19 control efforts. A coalition of municipalities is suing to lift the block. 

Luigi Mangione Mugshot Pennsylvania

Mangione enters plea of 'not guilty' as federal trial moves forward

Luigi Mangione has officially entered a plea in the indictment against him for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The federal case is now expected to move forward before the overlapping state murder trial, as the Department of Justice is seeking the death penalty.