Ohio receives $3 million from settlement

VW independent/submitted information

COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced that Ohio has joined with other states and the federal government to settle a lawsuit to resolve allegations of anti-kickback violations.

As a result of the settlement, Ohio will receive $3,079,659.25 from Olympus America Inc.

The whistleblower lawsuit alleged that Olympus and certain subsidiaries paid illegal kickbacks to healthcare providers. Specifically, the civil lawsuit alleged that Olympus used improper financial incentives to induce doctors and hospital executives to buy endoscopes and other surgical equipment.

“This type of behavior is clearly a violation of the law,” said Attorney General DeWine.  “By offering financial incentives to doctors to use Olympus’ products, it helped the company increase their sales and gain market share.”

In total, Olympus will pay $306 million in restitution and other recovery to the states and federal government.