1. Medtech Insight
  2. >>Policy & Regulation
  3. >>Legal & IP

Surgeons Using PODs To Skirt Disclosure, Kickback Rules, Senators Say

Orthopedic and other device-implanting surgeons who participate in physician-owned distributorships are circumventing Stark Law and Sunshine Act requirements to "grant themselves a steady stream of income" by ordering the most expensive implants, and performing some unneeded surgeries, says a Senate Finance Committee report released May 10. It scrutinizes the impact on spine surgeons, in particular.

Surgeons invested in physician-owned distributorships (PODs) are performing procedures involving implantable devices at a 44% higher rate than non-POD surgeons, and are trying to avoid Sunshine Act requirements, says a May 10 report released by the Senate Finance Committee. The Senate report

takes a particularly dim look at the impact of PODs on spinal surgeons, saying that the rate of spinal surgery...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Medtech Insight for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Legal & IP

Final Curtain For LDTs? FDA Will Not Appeal District Court Decision To Vacate Final Rule

 
• By Brian Bossetta

The US FDA has given up on its effort to regulate lab-developed tests as medical devices, at least for now. The agency will not appeal a decision from the Eastern District of Texas that tossed out the FDA’s final rule, leaving the agency with few cards.

State And International Enforcement Agencies May Step Up Amid Uncertain Federal Environment

 
• By Elizabeth Orr

States and international regulatory bodies may increase their US enforcement role following federal staff cuts, Hyman Phelps & McNamara attorneys said in a recent webinar. The attorneys also expect False Claims Act enforcement and public health to remain key areas of focus at the federal level.

FDA And Boston Scientific Face Legal Action Over Spinal Device Safety

 
• By Elizabeth Orr

A patient, Dena Lawler, is suing Boston Scientific and the US FDA over alleged harm from a spinal stimulator device. Lawler claims inadequate regulatory review allowed dangerous modifications to the device, which then caused her pain and other health issues. She is calling for reconsideration of the device approvals.

California Medtech Firms Resolve Patent Dispute Over Delivery Catheters

 
• By Brian Bossetta

Route 92 says it has reached a settlement with Q’Apel Medical over patent claims concerning its Tenzing delivery catheters.

More from Policy & Regulation

Medtech Giants Brace for Tariffs Impact: Responses Range From Financial To Philosophical

 
• By Marion Webb, Shubham Singh, and Nancy Pham

Manufacturing shifts, financial planning, and supply chain changes are among the adjustments that medtech leaders are making to Trump-era tariffs. Medtech Insight’s review of first-quarter earnings calls reveals how firms are navigating the impact and uncertainty of evolving trade policies.

Global Medtech Guidance Tracker: May 2025

 
• By Vibha Sharma

Stay current on regulatory guidelines from around the world with Medtech Insight's Guidance Tracker. Thirty-six documents have been posted on the tracker since its last update.

More Haste Less Pace? Challenging The ‘Early As Possible’ Principle In Medtech Innovation

 
• By Stuart Grant

The rallying cry to start as early as possible has become increasingly common in the world of medical device development. Innovation expert Dr. Stuart Grant challenges this conventional wisdom, asking: Is "sooner" truly better, or is there a smarter path to market for your medical device?