In this Sunday’s edition of The New York Times, Barry Meier reported that in 2008 heart device specialists at University Medical Center—a major hospital in Las Vegas—started using implants from a manufacturer named Biotronik in nearly all their patients. The reasoning behind this sudden change was revealed in company documents that detailed how these very same specialists had become consultants for Biotronik, each receiving up to $5,000 a month in fees from the device maker.
Prior to 2008, University Medical Center had used a group purchasing contract to buy heart devices that did not include Biotronik implants. In 2008, these doctors/Biotronic consultants began urging hospital officials to start buying the company's products. The doctors stated that Biotronik's implants were more dependable than their competitors, which in this market included three primary producers: Medtronic, St. Jude Medical and Boston Scientific. UMC’s chief executive stated that she never asked during the switch to Biotronik whether these specialists had any financial connection to the company.
Yesterday, Meier penned a follow-up to the story, noting that Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval on Monday asked state health officials to look into whether the dealings between the doctors and Biotronik “had involved improper billing practices or patient safety issues.” This is clearly an issue that affects all stakeholders in the delivery of healthcare and highlights the increasing importance of the healthcare supply chain.
To read Barry Meier’s original article from Sunday, click here
To read his follow-up piece from Tuesday, April 5, click here