Columbia, S.C.-based St. Francis Physician Services, Inc., St. Francis Hospital, and Bon Secours St. Francis Health System have agreed to pay $36.5 million to resolve allegations related to payments for orthopedic surgeons.
The health system alegedly made payments to orthopedic surgeons with Greenville, S.C.-based Piedmont Orthopedic Associates that were tied to volume or value of referrals, according to the Justice Department. St. Francis also allegedly paid bonuses to physicians that violated Stark law and the Federal Anti-Kickback statute.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by a whistleblower, who will recieve about $10.2 million.
The health system told Becker's the settlement will allow it to "place our focus where it belongs — continuing to compassionately serve patients and communities by providing the high-quality, mission-centric care that our community has come to expect without the disruption this kind of litigation can pose."