Federal False Claims Act Drug Settlement Returns $318,969 to Washington State
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Accused of Illegal Marketing, Paying Kickbacks to Medical Professionals
Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna announced on October 26, 2012, that Washington joined with other states and the federal government to settle allegations that Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BIPI) paid kickbacks and engaged in off-label marketing campaigns that improperly promoted Atrovent, Combivent, Micardis and Aggrenox. BIPI, a Connecticut company, will pay the states and the federal government $95 million, of which $34.5 million will go to Medicaid programs. The settlement resolves allegations that the company's conduct caused false claims to be submitted to government health care programs.
Washington state's share - calculated based on the amount the state's Medicaid program lost due to the improper conduct- is $612,280. Of that amount, $293,311 is returned to the federal government to cover its share of losses in Washington state (Medicaid is funded jointly by the states and the federal government) and $318,969 will be placed in the state Medicaid Fraud Penalty Account subject to legislative appropriation.
The settlement resolves allegations that BIPI unlawfully marketed drugs for a variety of non-FDA approved treatments, including:
As a condition of the settlement, BIPI will enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, which will closely monitor the company's future marketing and sales practices.
A National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU) Team participated in the investigation and conducted the settlement negotiations with BIPI on behalf of the states.
Source: Washington State AG's Office
Washington state's share - calculated based on the amount the state's Medicaid program lost due to the improper conduct- is $612,280. Of that amount, $293,311 is returned to the federal government to cover its share of losses in Washington state (Medicaid is funded jointly by the states and the federal government) and $318,969 will be placed in the state Medicaid Fraud Penalty Account subject to legislative appropriation.
The settlement resolves allegations that BIPI unlawfully marketed drugs for a variety of non-FDA approved treatments, including:
- Aggrenox to treat heart problems such as heart attacks and peripheral vascular disease
- Combivent for treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Micardis for treatment of early diabetic kidney disease
As a condition of the settlement, BIPI will enter into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, which will closely monitor the company's future marketing and sales practices.
A National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (NAMFCU) Team participated in the investigation and conducted the settlement negotiations with BIPI on behalf of the states.
Source: Washington State AG's Office