June 11, 2015

Louisiana announced that its Medicaid program will receive over $5 million as a result of a settlement between specialty pharmacy company Accredo Health Group, Inc. and 40 states and the federal government, resolving allegations that Accredo engaged in a scheme with drugmaker Novartis to boost sales of the drug Exjade, which is used to treat chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions. Accredo is accused of improperly directing nurses to contact Medicaid beneficiaries to encourage continued use of Exjade. Accredo’s goal in the scheme was to earn higher sales revenue, additional dispensing fees and more rebates from Novartis. The nurses were directed to discuss Exjade’s common side effects, but not its less common but more severe possible side effects such as kidney or liver problems. LA

Tagged in: FCA State, Medicaid, Pharma Fraud,