Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile6 entries
2026
Therapist sues UPMC over alleged failure to provide disability accommodations
Lawsuit filed
A behavioral health therapist filed a federal lawsuit in Pittsburgh on August 20, 2026 against the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, alleging disability discrimination, retaliation, mishandling of medical leave, and a hostile work environment. According to the filing, UPMC allegedly failed for about a year to provide approved speech-to-text note-taking accommodations and closed his accommodation case while he was on approved family and medical leave, cutting off his health insurance.
Source excerpt
The plaintiff, a behavioral health therapist who works fully remote seeing psychotherapy patients over telehealth, brings claims for disability discrimination, retaliation, mishandling of his medical leave, and a hostile work environment.
That is the account laid out in a complaint filed August 20, 2026, in federal court in Pittsburgh against the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
2021
US Justice Department sues UPMC over alleged false claims
Lawsuit filed
In 2021, the U.S. Justice Department filed a False Claims Act lawsuit against UPMC, its physician practice group, and a surgeon. The complaint alleges that they knowingly submitted hundreds of false claims to government health benefit programs. UPMC stated that it and the surgeon planned to vigorously defend against the claims. No court determination is reported in the source.
Company response
Denial — UPMC
UPMC and Dr. Luketich plan to vigorously defend against the government's claims.
Source excerpt
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against UPMC, its physician practice group, and the chair of its department of cardiothoracic surgery under the False Claims Act.
The complaint alleges the defendants knowingly submitted hundreds of false claims for payment to Medicare, Medicaid, and other government health benefit groups over the past six years.
UPMC and Dr. Luketich plan to vigorously defend against the government's claims.
2021
UPMC data-breach employee claims settlement
Settlement
UPMC reached a judicially approved settlement requiring it to pay $2.65 million to 66,000 employees whose personal information was stolen in a data breach. The employees’ claims alleged that UPMC failed to adequately secure their personal information.
Source excerpt
The plaintiffs alleged that UPMC’s failure to adequately secure their PII constituted negligence and breach of implied contract under Pennsylvania common law.
A years-long litigation battle surrounding a data breach at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2014 has resolved with a judicially approved settlement. Under the agreement, UPMC must pay $2.65 million to 66,000 employees whose personal information was stolen in the data breach.
2021
UPMC and Charles J. Hilton & Associates face class-action lawsuit over patient data breach
Lawsuit filed
UPMC and its legal services provider, Charles J. Hilton & Associates P.C., faced a class-action lawsuit over a breach that exposed protected health information of more than 36,000 patients. The complaint accused them of negligence, invasion of privacy, and failure to secure patient information; these are allegations, not a court determination.
Source excerpt
A lawsuit, brought by lead plaintiff Vince Ranalli, accuses UPMC and CJH of a number of violations including negligence, invasion of privacy, and failure to secure patients' PHI.
A Pennsylvania medical center and its legal services provider are facing a class-action lawsuit over a data breach that exposed the protected health information (PHI) of more than 36,000 patients.
The breach occurred last year when hackers gained access to several email accounts belonging to employees of law firm Charles J. Hilton & Associates P.C. (CJH).
2020
UPMC sued over alleged testing and disclosure of test results
Lawsuit filed
Cherell Harrington filed a lawsuit naming UPMC and Allegheny County as defendants, alleging that UPMC tested her and her newborn without her consent and turned the results over to county officials. These are allegations in the complaint, not findings by a court.
Source excerpt
UPMC and Allegheny County are being sued after the hospital system allegedly performed urine testing on a woman and her newborn — without the woman’s consent — and then turned over the results to county officials for investigation.
In a complaint filed in Allegheny County's Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, Cherell Harrington of Penn Hills argued these actions were a breach of physician-patient confidentiality, and a violation of her constitutional rights.
2014
UPMC–Highmark access and competition dispute
UPMC's conflict with Highmark over contracting, insurance competition, and hospital access led to litigation, regulatory intervention, and public criticism concerning the effects of healthcare consolidation. Pennsylvania courts and public officials addressed access obligations before the organizations reached a new agreement in 2019.