◆ Former orthopedic surgeon Kevin Schoenfelder of Tacoma, Washington, and CHI Franciscan Health and St. Joseph Medical Center agreed to settle false claims allegations in connection with claims for medically unnecessary spine surgeries, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington said May 7.^[1] CHI Franciscan Health and St. Joseph Medical Center will pay $745,654, and Schoenfelder, who retired in 2018 and gave up his license the following year, will pay $197,054, the U.S. attorney’s office said. None of them admitted wrongdoing.