Sanford Health terminated a neurosurgeon shortly after the government decided to intervene in a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that he committed fraud, according to the Argus Leader.
The lawsuit claims Wilson Asfora, MD, performed unnecessary spine surgery with a device made by a company he owned, and billed Medicare for services that weren't delivered, along with Sanford Health. The suit was unsealed in June after the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota filed a motion to intervene. At the time, the health system and its chief medical officer denied the allegation had merit.
Dr. Asfora's lawyer confirmed the termination, effective Sept. 24, to the Argus Leader. He also said Dr. Asfora "believes the allegations made in the lawsuit are bogus."