Legal News

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

FTC shuts down alleged health insurance fraud scheme involving the sale of low-quality plans
The owners of several telemarketing companies, along with the organizations themselves, have been named as defendants in a federal lawsuit. The Federal Trade Commission alleges that the group would sell bundled services as supposed “PPO” plans, leaving patients to discover that services were not covered.
New case law could put radiologists on hook for imaging-order appropriateness
“Radiologists should exercise caution when implementing...protocoling workﬂows that bypass independent radiologist review," one expert writes in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Clinic selling electrical stimulation pain relief pays $380K to resolve fraud allegations
The U.S. Department of Justice said Wisconsin-based Apple Clinic and its owner Michael Johnson, MD, were using a combination of nerve density testing, vitamin injections and electrical stimulation to alleviate pain, billing Medicare for these medically unnecessary services.
Where physicians have become more litigious than hospitals over unpaid patient bills
Of all lawsuits filed against patients in 2024 in one U.S. state, physician practices and other non-hospital healthcare entities accounted for 80% of cases. That’s a complete inversion from just six years prior.
DOJ seeks to freeze assets of telehealth company, alleging 'runaway campaign of lawbreaking'
The U.S. Department of Justice said it worries its lawsuit could ultimately bankrupt the telehealth group, leaving little money for alleged victims. The company is said to have refused to cancel member accounts, forcing patients to file credit card disputes to get refunds. This is in addition to other arguably more serious accusations levied by the DOJ.

Ohio health system sued by DOJ over alleged antitrust violations related to payer contracts

The U.S. Department of Justice and the state attorney general's office allege OhioHealth used its position of market dominance to pressure commercial plans into always keeping its hospitals and clinics in-network, even when competitors offer services for a better rate.

Man posing as radiology sales rep arrested for allegedly stealing $14M in medical devices

Jacksonville, Florida, police first apprehended Michael J. Roberson on Feb. 10 following an investigation dating to December 2024.

With SCOTUS striking down ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, Trump implements 15% tax on all imports

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs unconstitutional. The administration responded by imposing a 10% rate across the board, later hiked to 15%. That will remain in effect for 150 days and require an act of Congress to extend.

Nurse suing hospital for failing to head off vicious attack by patient

A hospital and its security contractor are facing legal trouble over a brutal beating taken by a unit nurse at the hands of a mentally ill inpatient a year ago.

Esperion Therapeutics Inc. has filed patent infringement lawsuits against eight generic drug makers for filing U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA) to make generic versions of its successful bempedoic acid (Nexletol).

Esperion settles another lawsuit to keep generic versions of popular drug off shelves

As soon as Esperion Therapeutics gained FDA clearance for Nexletol in 2020, competitors started trying to copy it. The company is fighting back.

3 legal concerns for providers using AI to refill prescriptions—or to do anything similar anytime soon

Utah made waves last month when the state announced it would let an AI chatbot autonomously order drugs for patients. The move struck some observers as something of a high-stakes gamble.

Man faces 14 months in jail, $27M in restitution for imaging kickback scheme

He and two co-conspirators entered into agreements with doctors that consisted of financial kickbacks drawn from Medicare reimbursements for unnecessary brain imaging ordered by providers.

Parents accuse staff of negligence after child dies during MRI scan

The pediatric patient was purportedly given a lethal dose of anesthesia prior to the imaging exam, according to media accounts.

Legal News

FTC shuts down alleged health insurance fraud scheme involving the sale of low-quality plans

New case law could put radiologists on hook for imaging-order appropriateness

Clinic selling electrical stimulation pain relief pays $380K to resolve fraud allegations

Where physicians have become more litigious than hospitals over unpaid patient bills

DOJ seeks to freeze assets of telehealth company, alleging 'runaway campaign of lawbreaking'