Medical Devices – Bone Growth Stimulators

Orthofix International NV agreed to pay the United States government $42 million to settle civil and criminal charges relating to its marketing and sale of bone growth stimulators to Medicare and other federal health plans.  In addition to the criminal plea by Orthofix, eight individuals also pled guilty or were convicted of various crimes including bribery, altering medical records and lying to the grand jury. The settlement was the result of a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Getnick & Getnick LLP on behalf of a Midwest health care billing consultant who brought the allegations to the government’s attention.

Getnick & Getnick’s client received a 27 percent share of the civil recovery of $34.23 million. This is at the very top end of the statutory range allowed by the whistleblower statute.