Charles Denham, MD, the former chair of the Safe Practices Committee of the National Quality Forum, has agreed to pay the federal government $1 million to settle allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by soliciting and accepting kickbacks, according to the Department of Justice.
Dr. Denham is a patient safety consultant who operates Health Care Concepts and the research organization Texas Medical Institute of Technology, both of which were also named as parties in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleged under agreements entered into in 2008, Dr. Denham received monthly payments from CareFusion while serving as the co-chair of the Safe Practices Committee. The lawsuit further alleged Dr. Denham received the kickbacks in exchange for "influencing the recommendations of the National Quality Forum and for recommending, promoting and/or arranging for the purchase of CareFusion's product, ChloraPrep," according to the DOJ.
Although Dr. Denham has agreed to this settlement, there has been no determination of liability.
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