Investigation into Physician-Owned Distributors Continues

Healthcare & Life Sciences Chair Maria Currier and Partner Vince Farhat authored an article for the Daily Journal titled "Investigation into physician-owned distributors continues."

The article reports that the U.S. Senate Finance Committee launched a wide-ranging investigation into physician-owned distributors (PODs) that sell surgical implant devices to hospitals. Based on the interim responses received from The Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OGI) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that reviewed this rapidly growing segment of the healthcare industry, the legality of PODs remain in flux. In the article, Mr. Farhat and Ms. Currier advise hospitals that are considering purchasing implant from PODs, or physicians who are contemplating joining a POD, to carefully take into account the factors the OIG lists in its interim Senate response.