Wright Medical Technology Inc., based in Arlington, TN, will pay $7.9 million to settle U.S. civil charges that it paid kickbacks via consulting contracts to encourage orthopedic surgeons to use its hip and knee devices.  Wright also entered into a deferred prosecution agreement under which criminal charges will be dropped in 12 months if James B. Tucker, former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, who has been appointed independent monitor, confirms that Wright has reformed how it hires consultants.  Wright also entered into a five-year corporate integrity agreement.

This charge is similar to other companies charged in 2007, which accused makers of hip- and knee-implant devices, including Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., Zimmer Holdings Inc., Biomet Inc. and Smith & Nephew Inc., from conspiring to violate the anti-kickback law. These cases ended in 2009 when the companies involved paid more than $310 million and undertook reforms.

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