RICO
On October 18, 2005, Humana agreed to settle its portion of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO). Like other HMOs that settled, Humana agreed to make many propatient, prophysician business process improvements. Humana also agreed to pay physicians $40 million for past abuses. "Thousands of physicians and their professional associations and representatives have worked long and hard for this agreement," said co-lead outside counsel, Archie Lamb. "As in previous settlements, the agreed upon landmark business practice changes will result in a more efficient health care system for all concerned and redirect precious resources to the care of patients."
Supreme Court Decisions
The Litigation Center of the AMA and State Medical Societies
TMA is a founding member of the Litigation Center of the AMA and State Medical Societies. The Litigation Center is an organization created by the AMA and the state medical societies to coordinate litigation within the federation of medical societies. Its purpose is to concentrate legal resources in filing lawsuits or amicus curiae briefs in cases of general interest to physicians and their patients and to share information and resources in response to emerging legal issues.
Current Issues
- High Court Gives Podiatry the Book (Action, July 1, 2010)
- Monitor Blue Cross Compliance (Action, June 15, 2010)
- United Settlement Claims Money Available (Action, May 3, 2010)
- Judge: Chiropractors Can't Do EMG, MUA (Action, Dec. 1, 2009)
- BCBS Settlement Money Coming This Summer (Action, June 16, 2009)
- Make Insurers Keep Their Promises (Action, May 15, 2009)
- When Hospitals Attack: AG, Physicians Battle Memorial Hermann (Texas Medicine, April, 2009)
- BCBS Coding Provisions in Effect (Action, Mar. 2, 2009)
- Supreme Court Sides With TMA Against Wyeth (March 4, 2009)
- Patients’ Right to Know (Action, March 2, 2009)
- TMA Sues CIGNA, Aetna Overt Secret Data (Action, Feb. 16, 2009)
- TMA Sues Family Therapists Board (Action, Sept. 15, 2008)
- Blue Cross Compliance Process Announced (Action, Sept. 15, 2008)
- TMA, TMLT Battle Wyeth in U.S. Supreme Court (Action, Aug. 18, 2008)
- Capital BCBS Settlement Deadlines Near (Action, June 16, 2008)
- Aetna Promises to Be Good (Action, June 16, 2008)
- Appeals Court Puts Foot Down Again (Action, June 1, 2008)
- Texas Physicians Can Share in New BCBS Deal (Action, Apr. 15, 2008)
- Agreement in Principle: Frew vs. Hawkins (April 2007)
- Judges Boot Podiatrists' Foot Definition - Action(March 2008)
- Few v. Hawkins: The Medicaid Battle Continues (Texas Medicine, March 2007)
- Medical Marijuana Gonzales v. Raich
- Attorney General Sues Discount Health Card Plans
- Attorney General Says Reporting Pregnant Drug Users Not Required