SPOKANE, Wash. — MultiCare Health System has reached a settlement with the United States and the State of Washington to resolve a civil matter involving allegations related to spinal surgeries performed by a former physician between 2019 and 2021.

MultiCare firmly disagrees with the government’s conclusions and its characterization of the facts in the government’s press release. Over the nearly two years of litigation, the government pursued allegations concerning MultiCare’s hiring, credentialing, and oversight processes, as well as assertions about what information was purportedly shared with the organization at various points in time. MultiCare consistently and directly challenged those allegations in court, providing specific factual evidence demonstrating that the government’s narrative omitted critical context and key facts.

MultiCare’s decision to litigate this case was deliberate. The organization believed then and continues to believe that the government’s claims relied on allegations unsupported by the facts. MultiCare stood behind its providers and its processes and was prepared to continue defending its position in court.

The settlement resolves the allegations in the government’s complaint and does not involve any admission of liability or determination of wrongdoing. MultiCare’s decision to resolve this matter allows the organization to avoid the cost, distraction, and uncertainty of continued litigation and to focus its resources on its mission of providing high-quality care to patients. It is not a concession of the government’s allegations.

“MultiCare is confident in the quality of care provided to our patients and the clinical decision-making of our providers,” said Bill Robertson, CEO of MultiCare. “MultiCare vigorously litigated the government’s allegations for nearly two years. The record that developed during that process speaks for itself. We are pleased to have resolved this matter and remain focused on delivering high-quality care to the communities we serve.”