Orthopedic Implant Companies Out of Fed Oversight

Apr 01, 2009   
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Four primary orthopedic implant companies that have been accused of violations to the federal anti-kickback laws are no longer the subject of the U.S. Attorneys offices federal oversight and have also been dismissed from criminal allegations that surgeons had received enormous sums of money as incentives to use their devices.

Chris ChrisiteTo avoid prosecution, the companies had agreed to accepting rigorous regulatory compliance procedures and a monitoring program by the federal government. Those agreements drew a great deal of criticism to U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, when it was revealed that the former Attorney General, John Ashcroft, was appointed by Christie to a monitoring program contract estimated to be worth up to $52 million. Christie, the Republican gubernatorial nominee hopeful, faced some tough questions about his relationship to, and the appointment of federal monitoring program supervisor – former federal Judge Herbert J. Stern. Judge Stern and his law firm were responsible for contributions of more than $20,000 to Christies campaign fund.Jonn Ashcroft

When asked about the current relationship in light of the circumstances, Christie simply dismissed the matter as, “typical political stuff …”

After federal prosecutors discovered incidents where orthopedic surgeons had received consultation fees upwards of $200,000 a year for the promotion of products from orthopedic implant companies, the U.S. Attorneys office pursued formal criminal charges alleging the actions were a violation of federal anti-kickback laws that govern Medicare provisioned hospitals and healthcare professionals.

According to the federal prosecutors, the medical device companies were using the consulting agreements as a cover-up for payoffs to use specific implant products for artificial hip or knee replacement operations. Furthermore, the U.S. Attorneys office claim that these payments and fees are commonplace in the industry and may also be accompanied by luxurious gifts, and extravagant trips.

The investigators found evidence that the physicians had actually performed very little to no consulting work whatsoever and had received funds from the orthopedic companies solely for the use of their products, and failed to keep accurate reports disclosing their relationship with the medical device companies to the patients that received the surgery or the hospitals where the surgeries were performed.

Biomet Orthopedics Inc., Zimmer Inc., Smith & Nephew Inc., and DePuy Orthopeadics Inc., agreed to paying $311 million in a civil settlement agreement and accepted a deferred prosecution agreement which would expire should the companies agree to an extended monitoring program and implement stringent reforms.

The appointee to the monitoring of Zimmer Inc., was John Ashcroft. Zimmer Inc., was not willing to disclose the amount that was paid to Ashcrofts law firm. However, according to the firms spokesperson, the payments were around $6 to $9 million dollars a quarter.