In a significant legal development, a federal judge has temporarily blocked Arkansas from enforcing Act 624. Act 624 prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies in the state, effectively...more
As expected, the lawsuits have commenced following the enactment of the Arkansas legislation prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers (PBM’s) from owning or operating actual pharmacies within the state. Michigan has filed its...more
Prescription drug fraud has long been a focus for government regulators, but it has taken on new significance in the wake of America’s opioid crisis. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Health and Human...more
Compliance is a key aspect of operating a successful pharmacy in the United States. This is true for pharmacies that bill federal healthcare benefit programs (i.e. Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare) and private payors, and it...more
Medical Technology Company President Charged in $69 Million COVID-19 Testing Fraud Scheme - A complaint in the Northern District of California was unsealed on June 9, 2020, charging the president of Arrayit Corporation, a...more
Omnicare and CVS Face Fraudulent Billing Lawsuit - On Tuesday, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced a False Claims Act lawsuit against Omnicare, Inc. and its parent company, CVS Health...more
On September 18, 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a $21.36 million settlement with compounding pharmacy Patient Care America (PCA), as well as PCA’s Chief Executive, PCA’s former Vice President of Operations,...more
Medical Device Exec Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for $4.6 Million Kickback Scheme, Co-Conspirator Awaits Sentencing - On August 29, the Department of Justice announced that a Tennessee health care executive, Brenda...more
Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its largest ever national health care fraud takedown, resulting in charges against 601 diverse defendants including...more
• In an unusual move, the government has decided to pursue a False Claims Act (FCA) suit against a private equity firm based on an alleged commission scheme at its pharmacy portfolio company to promote sales of products...more
As Congress continues to grapple over healthcare reform, there are many uncertainties. However, one thing is clear: as government healthcare funding shrinks, federal and state enforcement agencies will continue to target...more
The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Middle District of Florida (USAO-MDFL) prosecuted several civil health care fraud matters in 2016 and issued related press releases. A review of the USAO-MDFL’s criminal and...more
On December 7, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), issued a final rule that will have a widespread impact on health care service providers, medical transport providers,...more
On June 10, 2014, a New York federal court dismissed, in part, state and federal False Claims Act (FCA) claims brought against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and pharmacies to which it distributed (CVS Caremark Corp.,...more