Middleboro Review and so on

  Abiomed, Inc. Agrees to Pay $3.1 Million to Resolve Kickback Allegations BOSTON – Danvers-based Abiomed, Inc. has agreed to pay $3.1 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by purchasing lavish meals for physicians in order to induce them to use Abiomed’s Impella line of heart pumps.   The United States contends that Abiomed sought to induce physicians to use its pumps, which cost more than $20,000 each, by buying meals for them at some of the country’s most expensive restaurants, including Menton in Boston, Nobu in Los Angeles, Spago in Beverly Hills, and Eleven Madison Park in New York City.  The government further contends that Abiomed (1) paid for physicians’ meals in instances where attendees ordered alcohol in an amount inconsistent with legitimate scientific discussion; (2) paid for meals at expensive restaurants where employees invited spouses of physicians to attend (and those spouses did attend) even though the spouses had no legit...