Pfizer must pay $142M over Neurontin marketing 
Published: April 8, 2013
Tags: fraud, fraudulent marketing, health insurance, Neurontin, off-label uses, Pfizer, pharmaceutical litigation, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, RICO
Drug maker Pfizer violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act by engaging in a fraudulent marketing scheme promoting the epilepsy drug Neurontin for “off-label” uses, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in affirming judgment.
HHS issues contraceptive coverage rule
Published: February 4, 2013
Tags: contraception, contraceptive mandate, employers, health insurance, Obama administration, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration has issued a proposed rule under the federal health care law that would allow certain religious organizations to opt-out of providing mandatory contraceptive coverage to employees. But the rule also would allow employees to obtain outside coverage with no co-pays and at no cost to the organizations.
Employer needn’t pay for COBRA violations
Published: January 30, 2013
Tags: COBRA, Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, health insurance
A federal court was not required to assess civil penalties against an employer that failed to provide notices required under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, the 8th Circuit has ruled in affirming judgment.
Employer reimbursement didn’t increase child support
Published: November 9, 2012
Tags: child support, divorce, health insurance
Amounts that an employer reimbursed a divorced employee for his health insurance should not have been used to increase his child support obligation, the Georgia Supreme Court has ruled in reversing judgment.
Blue Cross reaches settlement over data breach charges
Published: October 23, 2012
Tags: Blue Cross, California, data breach, health insurance, insurers, Social Security numbers
California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has announced a settlement with one of the state’s largest health insurers over allegations that the company failed to protect the personal information of its members.
Woman with dementia awarded $34 million over insurance coverage
Published: April 12, 2012
Tags: dementia, health insurance, mental health, Montana
A 90-year-old woman residing in an assisted-living facility in Billings, Mont. has won a $34.2 million judgment against her Omaha, Neb.-based insurance company for suspending payments for her dementia care.
DOL proposes rules to cut down on health care fraud
Published: December 8, 2011
Tags: Department of Labor, health insurance, MEWAs, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON – The Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration has proposed two new rules under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aimed at cracking down on heath care fraud and protecting businesses and workers whose health benefits are provided through a multiple employer welfare arrangement.
Federal law preempts ‘little HIPAA’ claims
Published: October 20, 2011
Tags: health insurance, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HIPAA, preemption
Federal law preempts claims brought under a state “little HIPAA” law prohibiting health insurers from charging different premiums to similarly situated individuals, the 9th Circuit has ruled.
Health insurance may bear on medical malpractice standard
Published: September 20, 2011
Tags: health insurance, medical malpractice, standard of care
A medical malpractice jury could hear evidence that a doctor acted in accordance with the standard of care by refusing to commence an expensive course of treatment until receiving approval from the patient’s health insurer, the Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled in reversing judgment.
Mental health parity law requires anorexia coverage
Published: August 31, 2011
Tags: anorexia, ERISA, health insurance, Mental Health Parity Act
A state mental health parity law required a health insurance company to pay for the residential care of an insured who suffered from anorexia nervosa, the 9th Circuit has ruled in reversing judgment.
