Medtronic pays $400K to settle South Dakota kickback case

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Minnesota-based Medtronic has agreed to pay $400,000 to South Dakota to resolve allegations that it paid kickbacks to a neurosurgeon.

The settlement resolves allegations that Medtronic paid for more than 100 social events at a restaurant owned by Dr. Wilson Asfora.

Medtronic allegedly sponsored the events over a nine-year period to persuade Asfora to use Medtronic products.  The agreement is the latest settlement involving the former Sanford Health neurosurgeon.

Sanford Health had already agreed to pay $20 million to settle its role in the kickback scheme. Last year Medtronic agreed to pay $9.2 million to the federal government.