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Medicaid Fraud News
The Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a press release announcing a civil and criminal settlement worth $161 million with Caremark Inc. The Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services led the investigation and was assisted by the FBI. |
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| Aventis Pays More Than $190 Million to Settle Drug Pricing Fraud Matters |
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Aventis accused of committing acts of Medicaid Fraud by DOJThe giant pharmaceutical company agreed to pay three parties: the US government, The District of Columbia, and several states. This settlement resolves allegations that Aventis engaged in pricing practices that resulted in government organizations overpaying for drugs made by the company.The settlement centered on the company’s prices charged for its popular drug, Anzemet. This drug helps combat the nausea that many cancer patients suffer when undergoing oncology and cancer treatment. The government alleged infractions prohibited by the False Claims Act in charging the company. They said Aventis fraudulently set prices for Anzemet, knowing full well that federal health programs would set reimbursements to the company on those inflated prices. The US government said that Aventis knowingly caused false claim submissions to the federal government because its charges were based on the fraudulent, inflated pricing. As a result, the company’s earnings for the drug were positively impacted. Assistant Attorney General Peter D. Keisler said “The Justice Department will continue to hold drug companies accountable for fraudulent pricing schemes designed to give windfalls to drug companies and doctors at the expense of federal health care programs for the poor and the elderly.” The pricing irregularities came to light as the result of whistleblower, Ven-A-Care of the Florida Keys, inc. The home-infusion company filed a claim under the False Claims Act against Aventis. Federal laws encourage and reward citizens and companies to report Medicaid fraud. Ven-A-Care received over $32 million for its whistleblower actions. The Department Of Justice aggressively battles Medicaid fraud, keeping a particularly close watch on both healthcare providers as well as pharmaceutical companies. Both groups earn millions annually from the federal medical reimbursement programs.
Have information on Medicaid Fraud?If you have information about Medicaid fraud, contact the Medicaid Fraud Reporting Center for a confidential claim evaluation today. You may report Medicaid fraud by completing the form on this page, or by calling our Medicaid Fraud Hotline at 1-800-934-2921. |