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.

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.

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. 

money gavel court lawsuit legal judge judgement

Private cardiology practice accuses hospital of intimidation, defamation in $15M lawsuit

According to Oregon Heart Center, an independent cardiology practice, Salem Health is attempting to "monopolize cardiology care" in the area. The two providers had previously coexisted for years. 

pain pills opioids

Landmark opioid trial in Baltimore set to begin; Johnson & Johnson settles to avoid jury

Six companies have settled with the city for as total of over $402M. Two remaining defendants, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, will test their luck in court.

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Walgreens pays $107M to resolve fraud accusations brought by DOJ

The company was accused of billing the government for prescriptions patients never received. Walgreens said the oversight was a result of a software error. 

Coalition of 86 healthcare groups calls for change to Affordable Care Act rule

In a letter to Congress, the groups are urging lawmakers to support HR 9001 and lift the ban on physician-run hospitals.

Around the web

Compensation for heart specialists continues to climb. What does this say about cardiology as a whole? Could private equity's rising influence bring about change? We spoke to MedAxiom CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, a veteran cardiologist himself, to learn more.

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”