Maryland will receive $1.1 million from Olympus America Inc. under a settlement announced Tuesday over allegations the company paid kickbacks to doctors who bought their surgical equipment.
The lawsuit was filed by Attorney General Brian E. Frosh in conjunction with other states and the federal government. Maryland's share is part of a $306 million total settlement.
Olympus and its subsidiaries were accused of using "improper financial incentives" to induce doctors and hospital executives to buy endoscopes and other surgical equipment to illegally boost sales and gain market share, Frosh said in a statement announcing the settlement.
"This scheme that exploited hospitals and ultimately, their patients, is disturbing and wrong," Frosh said in the statement.. "Our office will continue to participate in health care fraud investigations to ensure that companies, like Olympus, are not putting profits ahead of patient needs."
Offices of the Attorneys General for California, Delaware, Indiana, New York, Virginia, and the District of Columbia were also a part of the settlement.