It wasn’t the first time that Asfora had been accused of making money by kickbacks. Although there was nothing remarkable about the Asfora Bullet Cage compared to other similar devices, Sanford paid a premium for the devices, with the resulting profits going to Asfora. In Asfora's case, that meant performing unnecessary surgeries and using more medical devices than needed, the Bechtold-Wellman lawsuit alleged.Īsfora designed a bullet cage used in spinal fusion surgeries that was granted approval by the Food and Drug Administration because it was similar to other devices on the market. The distributorships give physicians an ownership stake in the devices they use in patients, and are considered ethically dubious because they encourage doctors to profit from devices they use. “We are so proud to represent them and to see a measure of justice served."Īsfora used physician owned distributorships to pay himself kickbacks. “Though many knew about the alleged improper conduct, our clients were the only ones who came forward publicly, despite real risk to their reputations and their very livelihoods,” Nannis said in a statement. They were represented by Veronica Nannis and Jay Holland of the Joseph Greenwald & Laake law firm. More: Medtronic to pay millions to settle kickback allegations to South Dakota surgeonīechtold and Wellman will receive $880,000 in the settlement proceeds. Asfora and his companies violated the trust that so many others have worked hard to earn.” “South Dakota is fortunate to have many honest and dedicated healthcare providers who strive daily to provide high quality services. Holmes for the District of South Dakota in a release announcing the settlement. “Fraud in the healthcare arena is taken very seriously by the Department of Justice,” said acting U.S. The two had filed a qui tam lawsuit, or whistle blower action, alleging that Asfora was defrauding federal health care programs. The kickback scheme was detailed in a federal lawsuit filed by two of Asfora's colleagues, Drs. Dustin Bechtold and Bryan Wellman. Medtronic did not admit liability in the case. Sanford Health had already agreed to pay $20 million to settle its role in the kickback scheme, and last year medical device giant Medtronic agreed to pay $9.2 million to settle allegations it paid kickbacks to Asfora through the restaurant Carnaval Brazilian Grill, which Asfora and his wife owned. The settlement agreement is the latest twist in the Asfora saga. More: Sanford Health to pay millions to settle whistle-blower lawsuitĪsfora, Medical Designs and Sicage will be barred from participating in federal health care programs, including Medicare, for a period of six years under the settlement announced Monday. Federal law requires businesses to report ownership and financial ties with health providers to promote transparency in billing practices. Medical Designs and Sicage, Asfora's distributorships, also agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty for failing to report Asfora's ownership interests in the two companies. Former Sanford Health neurosurgeon Wilson Asfora and two companies he owned have agreed to pay $4.4 million to settle allegations that they bilked the federal government through an illegal kickback scheme.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |