Osteopaths, Professional Group $84M Settlement Wins Approval

The settlement of a class action brought by osteopathic physicians against their professional association, valued at about $84 million, will proceed as planned.

The settlement is “fair, reasonable, and adequate,” the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey said in an opinion approving the agreement Dec. 3.

The court rejected objections filed by the attorneys general of Arizona, Idaho, Louisiana, Rhode Island, and Texas.

Osteopathic physicians who are members of and board certified by the American Osteopathic Association sued the AOA, alleging it wouldn’t issue certifications to anyone who wasn’t a member. This was an illegal “tying” arrangement ...