Olympus, the largest endoscope manufacturer in the United States, agreed to pay $623.2 million to settle criminal charges alleging it violated anti-kickback laws, according to the Los Angeles Times. The settlement is the largest ever paid out by a medical device company for anti-kickback related charges.
The suit leveled at Olympus included complaints that a physician received $400,000 worth of endoscopes for persuading a health system to spend millions on the Olympus devices, as well as allegations of Olympus' paying for golfing, spa treatments, meals and "extra entertainment," according to the complaints.
"Olympus is committed to complying with all laws and regulations and to adhering to our own rigorous Code of Conduct," Olympus' CEO for the Americas, Nacho Abia, said in a statement. In separate cases, the company also agreed to pay $22.8 million to resolve charges related to bribing health officials in Central and South America, according to the Times.