Advanced Bionics LLC, a Valencia, California-based manufacturer of cochlear implant system devices, has agreed to pay more than $12 million to resolve allegations that it misled federal health care programs regarding the radio-frequency emissions generated by some of its cochlear implant processors.

“The United States expects device manufacturers to provide accurate information when they claim that their devices meet certain tests or standards,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The integrity of our health care system depends on the government being able to rely on the information provided by manufacturers when they apply for permission to market their devices.”

“The FDA’s approval process requires companies to demonstrate the efficacy of their products,” said U.S Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “The settlement in this case demonstrates our commitment to hold responsible any medical device manufacturer that skirts these rules and seeks FDA approval of a device it knows is not as effective as represented. The consumers who use these devices, and the federal programs that pay for many of them, deserve better.”

The tests at issue measured the extent to which cochlear implant systems generate RF emissions that can potentially interfere with other devices that use the RF spectrum. Such other devices may include telephones, alarm and security systems, televisions and radios.

The settlement resolves allegations that Advanced Bionics, in submitting pre-market approval applications to the Food and Drug Administration for Advanced Bionics’ Neptune and Naida cochlear implant processors, made false claims regarding the results of its RF emissions tests.
Advanced Bionics allegedly represented that its processors satisfied an internationally recognized emissions standard when, in fact, Advanced Bionics did not comply with that standard.

More specifically, Advanced Bionics allegedly failed to honor the standard’s requirements to test processors using “worst-case” configurations, and improperly shielded certain emissions-generating system components during emissions testing. Advanced Bionics then allegedly sought reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded healthcare programs for these devices.

“Patients deserve to receive medical devices which are in compliance with all federal standards,” said Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG) Office of the Inspector General. “Manufacturers are required to be truthful in submitting claims for payment to the Medicare and Medicaid Programs. HHS-OIG will continue to work with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the Medicare Trust Fund.”

“The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is committed to working with its law enforcement partners, including the Department of Justice, to combat health care fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. “TRICARE, the health care program for active-duty military personnel, retirees, and dependents, relies on medical providers to furnish complete and truthful information about the efficacy of their products and services. Today’s settlement demonstrates DCIS’s tireless commitment to investigating the submission of false claims and statements to TRICARE.”

“We expect that medical products offered to federal employees and their families meet the standards promised by the manufacturer,” said Special Agent in Charge Amy K. Parker of the Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General (OPM-OIG). “We applaud our law enforcement partners and colleagues at the Department of Justice for their hard work resulting in today’s settlement.”

“The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) is dedicated to ensuring veterans receive the quality healthcare products they are promised,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri of the VA-OIG Northeast Field Office. “In reaching today’s settlement, we thank the Department of Justice, and our law enforcement partners in exposing misleading practices that affect medical devices meant for veterans and the proper use of VA dollars for their benefit.”

In addition to the civil settlement, Advanced Bionics entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with HHS-OIG. The CIA requires an independent review of activities and processes relating to the preparation or submission of Premarket Approval Applications to the FDA and performance standards relevant to those PMAs.

Advanced Bionics must also implement a robust compliance program that includes, among other things, a risk assessment program and compliance certifications from key managers and from the Board of Directors.

The settlement provides that Advanced Bionics will pay roughly $11.36 million to the United States, and in addition, will pay approximately $1.24 million to the participating Medicaid States, pursuant to the terms of separate settlement agreements that Advanced Bionics has, or will enter into, with those states.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit originally brought by David Nyberg, a former Advanced Bionics engineer, under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. As part of this resolution, Nyberg will receive approximately $1.87 million of the federal settlement amount.

This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Justice Department’s Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General and Office of Investigations; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Defense Health Agency Office of General Counsel; the Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; and the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

Senior Trial Counsel Daniel Spiro of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren DeBruicker for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case.

The lawsuit resolved by this settlement is captioned United States, et al., ex rel. Nyberg v. Advanced Bionics Corp., Case No. 2:19-cv-3439 (E.D.PA.). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.