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.

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.

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.