Medicaid

February 7, 2008 -- Carson City, NV— Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced today the settlement of State of Nevada ex rel. Steinke v. Merck & Co., Inc., a civil fraud action brought under the Nevada False Claims Act. The lawsuit alleged that Merck overcharged the Medicaid program for prescriptions of Zocor and Vioxx to Nevada Medicaid recipients.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon today reached two settlements with pharmaceutical giant Merck that will provide $16 million in reimbursement for the Medicaid program. The settlements resolve allegations that Merck shortchanged rebates paid to the Medicaid program.    » read more »

February 07, 2008 -- BOSTON – Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Officereached a settlement withMerck & Co., Inc, in which the Commonwealth’s Medicaid programwill receive $10,502,943as part of two separate global settlements totaling $649 million. The settlements involve the Attorneys General of 49 states and the District of Columbia, and the federal government.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe today announced that Maine’s Medicaid program will receive approximately $2.2 million as part of two separate global settlements with Merck & Co., Inc.. The settlements involve 49 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government, totaling $649 million.

“This is a significant recovery for Maine’s Medicaid program,” Attorney General Rowe said.    » read more »

February 07, 2008 -- Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway today announced that the Commonwealth of Kentucky will receive more than $1.4 million as part of two separate global settlements totaling $649 million 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 »

Feb. 7, 2008 -- Kansas Attorney General Steve Six today announced that Kansas will receive nearly $5 million as part of two separate global settlements totaling $649 million with Merck & Co., Inc.. The settlements involve 49 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- Chicago - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced that the State of Illinois will receive $18.5 million as part of two separate global settlements totaling $649 million with Merck & Co., Inc., and involving 49 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker today announced that Georgia will receive $17.4 million as part of two separate global settlements totaling $649 million with Merck & Co., Inc.. The settlements involve 49 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government, and concern the Merck drugs Zocor, Vioxx, and Pepcid. The agreements with Merck resolve allegations that the company failed to pay rebates due state Medicaid Programs under the Federal Medicaid Drug Rebate statute.    » read more »

McCollum’s new civil enforcement bureau helps negotiate settlements resolving allegations that Merck failed to pay rebates due to state Medicaid programs

February 7, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that Florida will receive a total of $32.8 million as part of two separate global settlements totaling $649 million with Merck & Co., Inc. The settlements resolve allegations that the company failed to pay rebates for at least three prescription drugs due to state Medicaid Programs under the Federal Medicaid Drug Rebate statute.    » read more »

January 31, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today following news reports that President Bush plans large cuts in Medicare and Medicaid when he unveils his fiscal 2009 budget next week:

"The President is proposing to once again slash health care coverage for seniors and low-income working Americans. The President's cuts are exactly the wrong medicine when the cost of health care and the number of uninsured continue to rise and families are feeling economically insecure.    » read more »

January 30, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – The federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services plans to adopt five rule changes that eliminate federal dollars that have supported healthcare services for the elderly, persons with developmental disabilities, school-aged children and persons with mental illness.    » read more »

January 30, 2008 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today released the following statement regarding proposed federal rule changes for Medicaid. The changes will reduce federal funding for significant programs for the elderly, persons with developmental disabilities, school-aged children and persons with mental illness.    » read more »

Agreement settles allegations of transportation services never provided to Medicaid recipients

January 30, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that the Florida Medicaid program has recovered more than $420,000 in a settlement resolving a potential false claims lawsuit against a Palm Beach County company. Employees of Palm Beach Transportation, Inc. allegedly used the names of Florida Medicaid patients to create false trip tickets, causing the Florida Medicaid program to reimburse the company for medical transport never provided.    » read more »

1-28-08 -- Lincoln, Neb. -- Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning today announced the recovery of more than $3 million by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU). The unit investigated more than 80 cases of fraud and abuse in 2007. The MFCU also secured 10 criminal convictions last year for Medicaid fraud or theft from vulnerable adults.

“When providers steal from Medicaid, they’re stealing from Nebraskans,” said Bruning. “We’ll prosecute anyone who tries to get away with it.”    » read more »

January 29, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Miami pharmacy owner was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a Medicaid Fraud scheme that defrauded the Florida Medicaid program out of more than $400,000. John Darrell Boyd was charged with using his Miami-based pharmacy, Safety Drugs, to fraudulently bill the program for prescription medications primarily for treating organ transplant patients.    » read more »