Giving free samples and rebates to pharmacies? It's not the best idea.
Defrauding Medicaid for 11 years - and millions of dollars - can stir up several lawsuits.
Competing Delaware drug companies Dey Inc. and Warrick Pharmaceuticals Corp. face penalties and triple damages for allegedly exaggerating reported drug prices to the Missouri Medicaid program, according to a May 11 Missouri Attorney General press release. The two companies fought intense legal battles in other states as well, the AG says.
Medicaid paid $15 million more than it should have to reimburse the two drug companies during the past 11 years, the state AG alleges. The drugmakers purportedly overpriced mostly generic brand inhalants used for respiratory conditions that they sold to Medicaid-participating pharmacies.
How? Dey's and Warrick's higher average wholesale prices for Albuterol, Albuterol Sulfate and Ipratropium Bromide led to increased Medicaid reimbursement, giving pharmacies more incentive to dispense the companies' drugs, the AG alleges.
To read the press release, go to
http://www.ago.state.mo.us/newsreleases/2005/051105.htm.