October 29, 2014

Medical device maker EBI LLC, doing business as Biomet Spine and Bone Healing Technologies and Biomet Inc., agreed to pay $6M to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to induce use of its bone growth stimulators, which are used to repair fractures that are slow to heal. Specifically, the government alleged that from 2001 to 2008 EBI paid staff at doctors’ offices (through personal service agreements) to influence doctors to order its bone growth stimulators. The allegations originated in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by former EBI product manager Yu Yue under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, who will receive an undisclosed whistleblower award. DOJ

Tagged in: Anti-Kickback and Stark, FCA Federal, Medical Devices and DME, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,