Medicaid

March 12, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today expressed deep concern about proposed federal regulations that if implemented could cause Connecticut to lose $418 million in Medicaid revenue over the next five years.    » read more »

BALTIMORE, MD (March 11, 2008) – Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced the conviction of Tammy D. Smith and Anthony H. Smith, husband and wife, both of Huntshire Road in Randallstown on nine counts of felony Medicaid fraud and nine counts of felony theft. Each count of theft carries a maximum sentence of 15 years and each count of Medicaid fraud caries a maximum sentence of five years incarceration. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.    » read more »

March 03, 2008 -- Today Chairman Henry A. Waxman released a new report: The Administration’s Medicaid Regulations: State-by-State Impacts.

Click here for an interactive map showing how the proposed regulations would impact each state.

The report details the state-by-state impacts of seven regulations issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) that would make major, wide-ranging changes in Medicaid, the nation’s largest low-income health care program.    » read more »

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 29, 2008) -- Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today announced that the state has joined the states of Maine, New Jersey and Oklahoma to legally challenge federal regulations that, if implemented, could affect as many as 200,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Maryland.

The regulations, promulgated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), will alter every case management service offered by the State. Approximately $66 million per year in federal Medicaid payments to the State are in jeopardy.    » read more »

February 29, 2008 -- Today, Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe announced the filing of a lawsuit against the United States Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS) and Michael Leavitt in his capacity as Secretary of US DHHS. The Complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges a certain agency rule that would adversely impact many of Maine’s Medicaid recipients and cost the State’s general fund more than 16 million dollars in fiscal years 2008 and 2009.    » read more »

Feb. 13, 2008 -- Kansas Attorney General Steve Six today announced an agreement with Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. that will settle claims that it defrauded the Kansas Medicaid program through its drug pricing and marketing practices. Kansas will receive $743,209.81 through the settlement.

“Cases like this will show many in the pharmaceutical industry that we will not tolerate abuse of the system, fraud or creative pricing at the expense of the Kansas Medicaid Program and Kansas citizens,” Six said.    » read more »

February 12, 2008 -- Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has agreed to pay $22.7 million plus interest to settle claims that it defrauded state Medicaid programs by illegally inflating drug prices. Attorney General Mark Shurtleff announced today that the Utah Medicaid Program has received a check for $66,955 from the settlement. The remaining money is being split between the federal government, District of Columbia and 37 other states.    » read more »

February 12, 2008 -- (ALBUQUERQUE)-Aventis Pharmaceuticals. Inc. (Aventis) has agreed to pay $22.7 million plus interest to the United States, the District of Columbia and 38 States to settle claims that it defrauded the states' Medicaid programs through its drug pricing and marketing practices.    » read more »

February 11, 2008 -- Medicaid fraud cases against Merck and Aventis recover money for health care, schools Raleigh: More than $23 million will benefit North Carolina’s Medicaid Program and public schools thanks to settlements with two pharmaceutical companies, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper announced today.

“Drug makers shouldn’t cut corners with a program the helps the neediest among us,” Cooper said. “Schemes like these hurt taxpayers and drive up health care costs for all of us."    » read more »

February 8, 2008 - Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell announced today that Vermont will receive $3,881,945.00 as part of two separate global settlements totaling $649 million with Merck & Co., Inc. The entire Vermont settlement will be split between Vermont Medicaid and the federal government. The settlements involve 49 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers today announced that the State of Oregon Medicaid Program will receive approximately $1.75 million as part of two national settlements with Merck & Co., Inc. The settlements involve 49 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government. Merck is the manufacturer of the drugs Zocor, Vioxx, and Pepcid.    » read more »

February 07, 2008 -- OLYMPIA - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna in conjunction with 48 other states, the District of Columbia and the federal government, today announced a settlement with Merck & Co., Inc. Merck is the manufacturer of the drugs Zocor, Vioxx, and Pepcid. The announcement resolves allegations that the company failed to pay rebates due state Medicaid Programs under the Federal Medicaid Drug Rebate statute. Washington will receive more than $7.4 million as part of two separate global settlements totaling $649 million.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- The manufacturer of Zocor, Vioxx and Pepcid will pay Utah $2,256,337 for failing to give rebates to the state Medicaid program. Merck is paying a total of $649 million as part of two separate global settlements involving 49 states and the federal government.

“Merck is paying a great price for failing to be fair to taxpayers. I hope this will send a loud message to all pharmaceutical companies to play fair and pay up in the first place,” says Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that Pennsylvania will receive more than $8.5 million as part of two separate national settlements with Merck & Co., over the pricing of various drugs, including Zocor, Vioxx and Pepcid.

The national settlements with Merck, totaling $649 million, involve 49 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government. The agreements resolve allegations that the company overcharged state Medicaid programs for these drugs.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram announced today that New Jersey will receive $7.4 million in restitution in a Medicaid fraud settlement negotiated with pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., Inc.    » read more »