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.

Blue Cross Blue Shield BCBS

Louisiana insurer ordered to pay $421M for breast reconstruction surgeries

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana failed to fully reimburse St. Charles Surgical Hospital for 7,800 procedures, despite authorizing them.

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Walmart workers sue over tobacco fees levied for health plan trust

The class action lawsuit argues employees cannot escape the fees even after they stop using tobacco, a violation of labor regulations.  

Epic sued by interoperability startup following dispute over patient data

Particle Health has accused Epic Systems of monopolistic business practices that hinder data-driven initiatives to improve patient care. Epic calls the complaint “baseless.” 

California State Capitol Sacramento

Q&A: Healthcare attorney skeptical of California’s new private equity regulation

AB 3129 grants the Attorney General of California oversight of private equity transactions in healthcare. An attorney with Holland & Knight is concerned about the unintended consequences of the proposed law. 

Federal Trade Comission FTC Sign logo

FTC sues PBMs and GPOs for insulin price collusion

In a statement announcing its lawsuit, the FTC said Caremark, Optum RX and Express Scripts benefit from manufacturer rebates and ignore lower-costing drugs as a way to artificially increase prices. 

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FTC sues drug middlemen over insulin prices, puts others on notice

The FTC alleges that pharmacy benefit managers have set up a system where they get rich, while patients are forced to pay rising insulin costs. The agency also called out drug manufacturers such as Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk, saying their own actions have raised serious concerns.

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State Supreme Court ruling holds hospitals accountable for mistakes made by independently contracted radiologists

Washington becomes one of a select few where attorneys can also go after a hospital that hired outside physicians, joining South Carolina, Michigan, Maryland and Iowa

Department of Justice DOJ

CVS subsidiary Oak Street Health fined $60M for kickback scheme

Oak City Health paid $200 for every Medicare Advantage patient refereed to its clinics for services, the U.S Department of Justice said.