A Minnesota judge affirmed a $490 million settlement against ophthalmology distributor Cameron-Ehlen Group and founder Paul Ehlen for alleged False Claims Act violations, according to a May 15 report from Law360.
The group, which does business as Precision Lenses, owed just over $489.5 million in penalties and damages for allegedly providing kickbacks to physicians.
Precision is accused of providing luxury travel, and sports and theater tickets over the course of a decade to ophthalmologists who promised to buy medical supplies from the company. Supplies were used in cataract operations and other procedures covered by Medicare.
A jury determined the group and Mr. Ehlen violated the False Claims Act; Mr. Ehlen appealed.