KIDNEY DIALYSIS GIANT DAVITA SETTLES WHISTLEBLOWER CASE FOR $55 MILL FOR OVER-USE OF EPOGEN

Kidney dialysis giant DaVita Inc. has agreed to settle a whistleblower lawsuit by paying $55 million over allegations that it used more Epogen than was medically necessary and for double billing the government for Epogen left over in vials and reused. The whistleblower, Ivey Woodward and her counsel will receive a reward of $16.5 millio, as allowed by the False Claims Act. The federal government, which pays most dialysis through Medicare will receive more than 70% of the settlement. Most kidney dialysis patients are anemic. Epogen, made by Amgen, is commonly used in dialysis clinics to boost patiets red blood cell counts back to healthy levels. Medicare pays the bills of long-term dialysis patients. The whistleblower Ivey Woodward is a former employee of Epogen maker Amgen. DavIta is under a criminal investigation. Jeffrey Newman represents whistleblowers. jeff@jeffnewmanlaw.com