Pharma Fraud

September 5, 2019

El Paso Integrated Physicians Group, P.A., several physicians in the group, and Accutrack Medical Claims Services, LLC, have agreed to pay $2.93 million to resolve a False Claims Act case filed by whistleblower Sergio Garcia alleging that they double-billed and over-billed government payors for the infusion drug Remicade (Infiximab).  Remicade is sold in single-use vials; defendants were alleged to have pooled Remicade from partially-used vials, diluted Remicade, and illegally imported drugs from Canada and other foreign countries.  USAO WD Tex

September 5, 2019

In yet another enforcement action relating to a nationwide compounding pharmacy fraud scheme involving OK Compounding, Dr. James Womack of Missouri has agreed to pay $471,221 to resolve his liability under the False Claims Act.  Womack allegedly accepting kickbacks disguised as medical director fees in exchange for prescribing medically unnecessary pain creams.  USAO NDOK

September 4, 2019

Pharmaceutical company Mallinckrodt ARD LLC has agreed to pay $15.4 million to settle allegations of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute by “wining and dining” healthcare providers to induce Medicare prescriptions of its drug H.P. Acthar Gel.  The allegations arose from two whistleblowers, who will jointly receive about $2.9 million of the settlement.  DOJ

July 23, 2019

The owners of Pennsylvania-based E-Z Pharmacy II, Darshan Bapa Inc. and Natverbhai Patel, have agreed to pay $400,000 to resolve their liability under the False Claims Act.  E-Z Pharmacy allegedly billing Medicare for prescription drugs that were never dispensed.  USAO EDPA

July 11, 2019

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, which marketed and sold the opioid addiction treatment drug Suboxone until 2014 through its then-subsidiary Indivior Inc., will pay a total of $1.4 billion in a global settlement resolving criminal, civil, and administrative claims.  In marketing Suboxone Film, Indivior allegedly made unsupported claims that the drug was less-divertable and less-abusable than other buprenorphine drugs, and steered patients to doctors known to have a history of over-prescribing Suboxone and other opioids.  In addition, Indivior was alleged to have discontinued its tablet Suboxone for pretextual reasons, claiming a concern for pediatric exposure when, in fact, the company was seeking to delay FDA approval of a generic form of tablet Suboxone.  In a non-prosecution agreement, RB Group will forfeit $647 million in proceeds it received from Indivior, will cooperate with ongoing investigations, and will not manufacture or market controlled substances in the U.S. for three years.  In resolution of civil claims with the U.S. and states, including six lawsuits filed by whistleblowers under the False Claims Act, RB Group will pay $700 million to resolve claims that the marketing of Suboxone caused false claims to be submitted to federal- and state-funded government healthcare programs.  Finally, RB Group has agreed to pay $50 million in a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission to resolve claims that it engaged in unfair competition in seeking to impede generic equivalents of Suboxone.  DOJ; USAO W.D.Va.; FTC; VA; NY; PA