Recent legal settlements in spine care emphasize the need for ethical practices and timely medical interventions.
$2M Settlement Over Delayed Spine Diagnosis
Dr. Arik Mizrachi of Princeton Orthopaedic Associates settled for $2 million after allegedly failing to promptly diagnose a patient’s spinal growth, leading to the patient’s inability to stand and a subsequent diagnosis of thoracic spine plasmacytoma. The case, filed in 2021, was settled in March 2023.
Unnecessary Surgeries Lead to $942K Settlement
CHI Franciscan Health and former surgeon Dr. Kevin Schoenfelder settled for $942,708 with the U.S. Justice Department over claims of unnecessary spine surgeries from 2013 to 2018. Dr. Schoenfelder, who retired in 2018, was accused of overbilling Medicare, TRICARE, and Veterans Affairs. The whistleblower, Dr. Daniel Nehls, will receive 22% of the settlement.
Innovasis Pays $12M for Kickback Allegations
Spine device maker Innovasis and its executives agreed to pay $12 million to settle allegations of paying kickbacks to surgeons to use their products in surgeries on Medicare patients from 2014 to 2022. Whistleblower Robert Richardson will receive $2.2 million from the settlement.
Surgeon Fined $200K for Kickbacks
Dr. Tony Tannoury agreed to pay $200,000 for receiving kickbacks from DePuy Synthes. From 2016 to 2018, Dr. Tannoury used DePuy products in surgeries without paying for them. DePuy Synthes settled related claims for $9.75 million. Dr. Tannoury did not admit to the allegations and claimed he was unaware the devices were not billed to hospitals.
