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The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 270 checks totaling nearly $515,000 to consumers who paid for what the agency alleged was deceptively advertised “amniotic stem cell therapy” between 2014 and 2017. The average amount each consumer will receive is $1,907.

According to the agency’s October 2018 complaint, Dr. Bryn Jarald Henderson, D.O. and the companies he owns and operates, Regenerative Medical Group and Telehealth Medical Group, deceptively advertised that their “amniotic stem cell therapy” could treat serious diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, autism, macular degeneration, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and heart disease. The defendants lacked the scientific evidence needed to support these claims.

The settlement order with the Commission prohibits the defendants from making these and other health claims in the future, unless true and supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence. It also imposes a partially suspended $3.31 million judgment to provide refunds to affected consumers.

Consumers with questions about these refunds, or who do not receive a refund check but think they should have, may contact the FTC’s refund administrator, Rust Consulting, Inc., at 888-356-1499.

Recipients should deposit or cash checks by June 29, 2019. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.

FTC law enforcement actions led to more than $2.3 billion in refunds for consumers in a one-year period between July 2017 and June 2018. To learn more about the FTC’s refund program, visit www.ftc.gov/refunds.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.