Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1220364
2 ORTHOPEDICS Texas orthopedic surgeon pays $300K to settle kickback allegations over 'medical directorship' arrangement By Laura Dyrda A Friendswood, Texas-based orthopedic surgeon will pay $300,000 to resolve False Claims Act allegations related to OK Compounding. Four things to know: 1. The federal government accused Ian Reynolds, MD, of accepting illegal kickbacks from OK Compounding between April 2013 and September 2015. The company allegedly paid Dr. Reynolds kickbacks characterized as medical director fees for prescribing its pain creams as well as facilitat- ing the sale and distribution of them. 2. This is the 12th settlement involving OK Compounding in the past year. 3. The federal government conducted an investigation into the physicians and healthcare providers that prescribed OK Compounding products, which led to this civil settlement. 4. There was not a determination of liability related to this settlement. n New Hampshire hospital focuses on orthopedics amid merger talks — 3 things to know By Angie Stewart L aconia, N.H.-based Lakes Region General Hospital is betting on orthopedics as it considers merging with a large healthcare system, The Laconia Daily Sun reports. Three things to know: 1. Trying to recover from a heavy debt load and payment problems, the hospital is "deep, deep into discussion of a potential partnership," Presi- dent and CEO Kevin Donovan told The Laconia Daily Sun. 2. Lakes Regional will maintain and enhance local care, including ortho- pedic services, to distinguish itself whether or not a deal transpires. 3. An aging local population is driving demand for orthopedic care. The hospital recently hired an additional hand surgeon and extended job of- fers to "a couple more orthopedic surgeons," Mr. Donovan said. n OrthoIndy's Dr. Dean Maar dies during home invasion By Laura Dyrda D ean Maar, MD, a former vice president and board member of Indianapolis-based OrthoIndy, was shot and killed in his home in November 2019, according to an RTV6 Indianapolis report. Police responded Nov. 27 to a burglary in progress at Dr. Maar's home and found him dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Dr. Maar, 61, was an orthopedic surgeon at OrthoIndy at the time of his death. "Dr. Maar died defending his family from an act of senseless violence on November 27, 2019. His final decision in this life exemplifies his charac- ter. While preparing to host a large anksgiving dinner with his extended family, he was the victim of a home invasion. He confronted the armed attackers and sacrificed his life to save the Love of His Life," according to his obituary. Dr. Maar earned his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis and completed fel- lowships at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland in Baltimore. "He will be remembered for his integ- rity in all aspects of his patient care and contributions to the practice," said Tim Dicke, MD, president and CEO of OrthoIndy, in a statement published by WTHR, an NBC affiliate. Dr. Maar performed total hip and knee replace- ments and was an orthopedic trauma surgeon. He was also the assistant edi- tor for e Journal of Arthroplasty from 1991 to 1999 and named an Indianapo- lis Monthly Top Doctor from 2014 to 2019. n