John Oliver sued by healthcare boss he rebuked on air over ‘bowel movement' comments
A former health insurance boss has taken legal action against 'Last Week Tonight' host John Oliver, filing a defamation lawsuit against the Emmy winner.
Dr. Brian Morley, a hospital administrator and former medical director for AmeriHealth Caritas in Iowa, filed his lawsuit Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Morley's complaint stems from a Medicaid-themed episode of 'Last Week Tonight' that aired in April 2024. The lawsuit, reviewed by The Times, alleges Oliver and 'Last Week Tonight' producer Partially Important Productions linked Morley to a drastic decrease in Medicaid services and accused him of thinking 'it's ok if people have s— on them for days.'
An attorney for Morley did not comment to The Times on Wednesday and a representative for Oliver did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The episode central to Morley's lawsuit aired April 14, 2024, and saw Oliver explore the state of Medicaid, examining healthcare companies' cost-cutting measures and their toll on patients across various states. During the segment, which aired on HBO and is available on YouTube, Oliver explained the role of managed care organizations (MCOs) in the healthcare system and shared a news outlet's video about dwindling patient care. The 2018 news snippet featured a cerebral palsy patient in Iowa named Louis whose care was negatively impacted by MCO involvement.
Oliver followed that part of the segment with an audio snippet of Morley's comments about patient care from a 2017 administrative hearing. In the clip, Morley can be heard saying: 'People have bowel movements every day where they don't completely clean themselves and we don't fuss over [them] too much. People are allowed to be dirty. You know, I would allow him to be a little dirty for a couple of days.'
The quote garnered a strong reaction from the 'Last Week Tonight' studio audience and led Oliver to say he thought Morley's comments were taken out of context. He explained that he first thought 'there is no way a doctor, a licensed physician, would testify in a hearing that he thinks it's OK if people have s— on them for days.' Oliver continued his segment stating his team obtained the full hearing and that Morley 'said it.'
'He meant it and it made me want to punch a hole in the wall,' Oliver said. The segment returned to the 2018 video of Louis and his mother, both responding negatively to Morley's comments. The 'Last Week Tonight' host had some choice words for Morley — which were cited in Friday's lawsuit.
In his complaint, Morley says, 'Defendants' false accusations were designed to spark outrage, and they did.
'The false accusations Defendants made were so heinous that John Oliver felt justified in telling his millions of viewers: 'F— that doctor with a rusty canoe. I hope he gets tetanus of the balls,'' the complaint said. 'Oliver's feigned outrage at Dr. Morley was fabricated for ratings and profits at the expense of Dr. Morley's reputation and personal well-being.'
Morley accused Oliver and 'Last Week Tonight' of making him the 'face' of the dramatic decrease in Medicaid care and increased cost-cutting. The lawsuit also raised concerns about how 'Last Week Tonight' allegedly misrepresented Morley's 2017 comments and 'knew and disregarded' various details of the hearing in the April episode.
The lawsuit alleges that the 'Last Week Tonight' team 'conveyed the false and defamatory meanings' that Morley denied care to 'Louis and/or the alleged 'similar' individual subject' of his testimony and that he allegedly said it was acceptable for patients who wear diapers or who cannot bathe themselves to 'be left sitting in their own bowel movements for days.'
The complaint says that the 'Last Week Tonight' team obtained and reviewed 'an unabridged audio recording' of the 2017 hearing and that one of the show's senior news producers allegedly confirmed to Morley that they had reviewed the hearing. According to the lawsuit, Morley made his 'bowel movement' comments in regard to a 'hypothetical average person, who is independently mobile and can toilet transfer' but who might not have been able to clean themselves entirely after a bowel movement. 'Last Week Tonight' allegedly did not disclose that detail, according to the lawsuit.
He accused the show's producers of 'negligence, knowledge of falsity, and/or a reckless disregard for the truth.'
Morely also alleges that a 'Last Week Tonight' news producer 'refused' to meet when he offered to explain his comments. The defendants also allegedly refused Morley's October 2024 request that they 'retract their false and defamatory statements.'
Morley seeks an unspecified amount in damages including legal fees and additional relief. He also requests that judges order 'Last Week Tonight' to remove the 'false and defamatory statements from all platforms' and keep them from republishing. He is seeking a trial.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Federal budget bill could strip 300K Pennsylvanians of Medicaid coverage, push rural hospitals to the brink
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a weekly newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from north-central PA, at HARRISBURG — President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful' budget bill could have a disastrous effect on the health of rural Pennsylvanians and the operations of the hospitals and other medical centers that care for them. The federal budget proposal, which passed the U.S. House by a one-vote margin in May, calls for nearly $800 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade. It also includes a new 80-hour-per-month work or service requirement for Medicaid recipients between the ages of 19 and 64 who aren't caregivers or who have disabilities. Among other changes, the bill would require verification of coverage eligibility every six months rather than annually. While supporters of the budget bill argue that it will slow spending and safeguard government programs, critics say the cuts and new requirements will create more paperwork for states and make it harder to access essential care. Opponents also argue the changes would push struggling rural hospitals and other providers to the brink, and force them to scale back services or close entirely. More than 3 million people in Pennsylvania — 23% — are covered by Medicaid, according to data from the state Department of Human Services, which administers the program. The agency estimates that more than 300,000 would lose Medicaid coverage under the proposal. Val Arkoosh, secretary of the department, said the bill would not only hurt those losing coverage but 'all of us who would face the real-life consequences of crowded emergency departments, increases in the cost of health insurance, and the catastrophic effects on economies and health systems in rural areas.' More than 737,000 Medicaid recipients live in rural counties, where residents are typically older and more reliant on government-funded insurance programs. Such programs reimburse at lower rates compared to private insurance companies and haven't kept up with inflation. Cameron County Commissioner James Moate, a Republican, said the Medicaid reimbursement rate should have never been less than 100%. 'That's why we have struggling hospitals,' he told Spotlight PA. On average, Pennsylvania hospitals absorb a loss of 18 cents on the dollar for care provided to Medicaid patients, said Nicole Stallings, president and CEO of the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, which represents more than 230 hospitals statewide. In rural communities, the average loss is 26 cents on the dollar, she added in a May statement. 'Medicaid plays a vital role in the health of rural residents, and it is important to preserve this funding so that families can continue to access the care they need for healthier lives,' said Douglas Winner, chief financial officer for Penn Highlands Healthcare, a nonprofit system with nine hospitals in rural counties. Penn Highlands President and CEO Steve Fontaine has told lawmakers that consolidating with other health systems and expanding into new areas has helped facilities survive. This strategy, which has helped Penn Highlands diversify its patient and insurance bases, is why the system expanded into Centre County, where resident numbers are expected to grow, he told lawmakers last year. Still, the health system has shuttered services and reported operating losses over the past year. Winner said Penn Highlands is 'greatly concerned' about the proposed Medicaid cuts. 'Rural hospitals have experienced substantial cost increases for labor, drugs, and supplies,' he said in a statement. 'Coupled with decreasing volumes, inadequate reimbursement rates, and ongoing staffing shortages — recruitment and retention — we are struggling financially.' Advocates worry the cuts in the federal budget will force rural hospitals to slash services even more or close altogether. And once facilities end a service or shut down, they rarely reopen, Stallings told Spotlight PA. Community health centers could also be strained. These facilities, also known as federally qualified health centers, provide services regardless of someone's ability to pay and primarily see patients who use Medicaid and PENNIE, the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace. More uninsured people will likely lead to an increase in uncompensated care, said Eric Kiehl, director of policy and partnership for the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers. And these facilities are already strapped for resources, he told Spotlight PA. A surge in demand could cause these health centers to shutter core services — such as medical, dental, or behavioral health — reduce hours, or close, Kiehl said. Pennsylvania's U.S. House delegation voted along party lines on the federal budget bill, with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing the proposal. Medicaid spending totaled roughly $44 billion in fiscal year 2023. The federal government provided almost $28 billion of those dollars. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has said the state won't be able to make up those dollars to support the Medicaid program. In a statement, Shapiro said he hopes 'common sense and a concern for the people of Pennsylvania' will prevail in the U.S. Senate, where Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and Republican U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick disagree on aspects of the bill. McCormick did not respond to a request for comment for this story. He has expressed support for the budget bill, which he says will reduce and slow government spending. During a Fox News forum, McCormick said he isn't advocating for taking benefits from 'vulnerable people' but is trying to ensure 'people for whom the program was designed' benefit. Fetterman called the plan 'a bad bill,' telling Spotlight PA in a statement: 'Republicans want to put more money in the pockets of the ultra-rich at the expense of hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians who will lose access to Medicaid if this disastrous bill is passed.' and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Local hospital performs 600th heart transplant
HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) — Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center reached a major milestone last month: it performed its 600th heart transplant. The operation was performed on 51-year-old Paul Clifford of State College. In 2017, he learned he carried genetic markers for a progressive condition that would eventually weaken his heart's ability to pump blood. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now By the time of Clifford's transplant, the percentage of blood his heart pumps with each beat decreased by 20%. 'This isn't something people go through multiple times, so I didn't know where the best place was to get care,' Clifford said. 'But looking back, I don't think I could have received better care anywhere in the world than I did right here at Penn State Health.' The center completed its first heart transplant in 1984. It is the only hospital in Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh that offers heart transplant surgery. Dr. Behzad Soleimani said the milestone reflects the strength of the center's medical team and the trust from its patients. 'Each transplant is a life renewed, and we are proud to continue this work with compassion, innovation and excellence,' Dr. Soleimani said. The national three-year survival rate for a heart transplant is 84.71%, according to the center. It boasts a 97.22% three-year survival rate. Federal budget bill could strip 300K Pennsylvanians of Medicaid coverage, push rural hospitals to the brink According the the American Heart Association, the list of patients waiting for a heart transplant continues to grow at a higher pace than the donor list. Pennsylvanians can become an organ donor online or by checking 'yes' for organ and tissue donation when they get or renew their driver's license, leaner's permit or photo ID. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
NMHS terminates UHC Medicare Advantage agreements
TUPELO – After nearly a year of negotiating, North Mississippi Health Services facilities and providers have terminated, as of May 31, agreements with United Healthcare AARP Medicare Advantage, as well as Medicaid-required Dual Special Needs Medicare Advantage plans. For those on one of these two United Healthcare Advantage plans, NMHS providers and facilities are now out of network. NMHS will remain in network for UHC commercial- and employer-sponsored plans. This change does not affect a vast majority of independent providers. For example, Cardiology Associates of North Mississippi is independent. It is crucial for those on these plans to know if their plan is a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) or an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) — it makes a difference. If your UHC Medicare Advantage plan is a PPO, that means the plan offers out-of-network benefits, and NMHS can continuing offering its services. But if your UHC Medicare Advantage plan is an HMO, no benefits include out-of-network benefits. If you are not certain if your UHC Medicare Advantage plan is an HMO or a PPO, your card has the information. Look carefully — it's there. Each fall there is an annual enrollment period for making changes to Medicare. However, from January through March, seniors who purchased an Advantage plan but may not have been clear on its benefits, may return to traditional Medicare, if they desire. This with dual eligibility, having both Medicare and Medicaid, can make changes every month and are not locked into an entire calendar year. "Advantage plans are not a bad thing," said Wally Davis, vice president of NMHS Payor Strategy & Partnerships. "But people just need to understand the benefits of what they are choosing." For those who have serious illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, kidney dialysis, who need and want consistent ongoing care without interruption due to having to choose a new in-network facility or physician may seek approval from United Healthcare. "This is true for members with both HMO and PPO plans," Davis said. "And each request is considered on a member-by-member basis. Continuity of care may be for 90 days or until the end of specific treatment." NMHS's termination of the agreement with UHC was based on the fact patients on their Advantage plans were experiencing delays or denials of care. "We notified UHC Medicare Advantage leadership about this concern in February 2024," Davis said. "Plans denied, on average, 25 to 30% of inpatient claims with North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo each month. Despite following the labor-intensive appeals process and achieving an overturn rate of 80 to 85%, we never received from UHC a definitive answer on why this was happening." For more information about Medicare coverage options, call 1-800-MEDICARE, visit or speak with a local insurance agent or broker. To research plans that NMHS remains contracted with, visit
