County OKs new deal with Biotronik
Clark County commissioners found themselves in the awkward position Tuesday of deciding whether to buy pacemakers from a vendor spotlighted in a high-profile expose.
After some discussion, commissioners approved the deal with Biotronik in what otherwise would have been a routine consent item.
The German manufacturer sought a $3.5 million annual contract to supply a new line of pacemakers to University Medical Center. The company is the chief supplier of heart implants at UMC.
A New York Times story questioned the company's tactics in becoming UMC's preferred heart-device vendor, namely paying consulting fees to a group of cardiologists who contract with the hospital. The fees range from $2,000 to $5,000 a month.
Dr. William Resh, one of the doctors, estimated that 75 percent of physicians nationwide do consulting work for medical suppliers .
Kathy Silver, UMC's chief executive, said Resh and the other three doctors who consult for Biotronik have agreed to disclose their earnings from the company.
