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.

Ron DeSantis

Gov. DeSantis accused of diverting $10M in Medicaid funds to charity run by wife

The Florida governor claims the money was not part of a settlement the state made with Centene, and that the insurer donated the cash as a “cherry on top.” 

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Owner of home healthcare company gets 14 months for defrauding COVID programs

Nakita Cannady, 49, was also convicted of defrauding Cigna to the tune of $194,000, billing the insurer for patient care hours her providers never filled. 

U.S. Supreme Court building SCOTUS

Supreme Court likely to uphold ACA preventive care provision, analysts say

According to multiple reports, the majority of justices appeared to be leaning toward siding with the government, which argues that members of HHS's Preventive Services Task Force have the legal authority under the Constitution to determine which treatments are covered as 'preventive' under the Affordable Care Act.

Department of Justice DOJ

DOJ sends letter to medical journals asking about bias and ‘misinformation’

A letter addressed to CHEST was made public, wherein a U.S. Attorney asked how it intends to "protect the public from misinformation" and ensure publication of "competing viewpoints." 

U.S. Supreme Court building SCOTUS

Early signs say Supreme Court likely to preserve preventive care mandate

SCOTUS on April 21 started hearing oral arguments in the high-profile case that could impact cost-free access to CT screening for lung and colorectal cancer. 

Vintage neon drug sign at the Walgreens pharmacy on Canal Street in downtown New Orleans.

Walgreens settles DOJ opioid crisis case for $300M

The pharmacy chain was accused of filling “millions” of unlawful prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. Despite agreeing to the payout, the company does not admit wrongdoing.

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White House to end civil service protections for 50,000 federal workers

President Donald Trump's administration said an executive order to implement Schedule F, to make it easier to fire federal works that don't align with its agenda of "draining the swamp," is forthcoming. 

Family of heart patient who died awarded $45M after suing health system for negligence

The 55-year-old patient woke up experiencing chest pain one morning and an ambulance was called. He was dead just a few hours later. His family's lawsuit argued that delays in care, communication errors and other issues were directly responsible for his death.