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A number of 43 states will receive money from drug maker
Bristol-Myers Squibb as part of a nationwide settlement with the company that
concludes an investigation into whether the company overcharged Medicaid
program for its drugs and tried to advertise one of its drugs for an unapproved
used.
Medicaid is a health insurance program for the poor that is
financed by state and federal governments.
The National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units
reported earlier that 43 states, the District of Columbia and the federal
government settled with the New York-based Bristol-Myers for $389 million plus
interest in September last year.
The settlement addresses several allegations against Brystol-Myers
including reporting inflated prices for various prescription drugs, making
illegal payments to physicians, health care providers and pharmacies in
exchange for purchasing Bristol-Myers and Apothecon products, promoting the
sale and use of Abilify, an antipsychotic drug, for uses not approved by the US
Food and Drug Administration and misreporting sale prices for Serzone, an
antidepressant, resulting in the improper reduction of the amount of rebates
paid to state Medicaid programs.
Federal laws require pharmaceutical companies give their
lowest prices to Medicaid programs and that was the basis of complaints that
led to the settlement.
“Bristol-Myers is pleased to have resolved these matters
from the past and is proud of its commitment to conduct business with the
highest standards of integrity in its mission to extend and enhance human
life,” said a spokesperson of the company on Tuesday.
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