This new law fixes problems in the False Claims Act, extends whistleblower protections to those who work for contractors and provides new
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A federal judge has conditionally certified a class of potentially 85,000 current and former employees of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in a Fair Labor Standards Act lawsuit challenging UPMC’s meal break policy. Conditional certification means that plaintiffs will be able to notify all current and former non-exempt employees from the past three years…
Most participants in the credentialing process are familiar with state statutes providing peer review immunity and confidentiality. The Tennessee statute analyzed in Smith v. Pratt and HCA Health Services of Tennessee, Inc. /d/b/a CentennialMedicalCenter take that immunity one step further.
In this malpractice case, the court held that Tennessee Code § 63-6-219 provides immunity…
In Chudacoff vs. UniversityMedicalCenter of Southern Nevada, et al., the United States District Court for the District of Nevada granted partial summary judgment on behalf of Richard M. Chudacoff, M.D., enjoining University Medical Center from reporting Dr. Chudacoff to the National Practitioner Data Bank, and granted summary judgment on Dr. Chudacoff’s…
A physician in Knoxville, Tennessee, Dr. Abu-Hatab, sued Blount Memorial Hospital alleging that his medical staff membership and clinical privileges had been terminated and retaliation for exercising his First Amendment right of free speech regarding complaints about medical care in the hospital. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee granted summary judgment…
The Pennsylvania Safety Authority issued its Annual Report for 2008, press release and Executive Summary.
Mike Cassidy was one of 25 lawyers selected nationwide for participation in the American Health Lawyers Association Masters Program. The Masters Program conferences are held every few years as a high level study group or focus group for specific healthcare issues. The topic this year is "Improving Quality and Bonding with Physicians: A Health System Case Study." The format…
My colleague, Bob Coffield, who publishes Health Care Law Blog, has passed on the post below regarding the Wahi decision, which I recommend for your review.
healthcarebloglaw.blogspot.com/2009/04/fourth-circuit-affirms-summary-judgment.html
West Penn Allegheny accuses UPMC, Highmark of Conspiracy
The West Penn Allegheny Health System has sued UPMC and Highmark in U.S. District Court, charging the region’s leading hospital system and health insurer with antitrust violations that have illegally raised prices for consumers in the region.
In a potentially striking blow to the Pennsylvania Medicaid (Medical Assistance)Third Party Liability (“TPL”) collection practices, the Honorable Joy Flowers Conti, Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, issued a Memorandum Opinion dated March 25, 2009 in the Tristani v. Richman et al. proposed class action. PAWD Civil Action…
