AGO News Releases With Topic: Health

OLYMPIA—Washington has joined with other states and the federal government in a $500 million dollar settlement to resolve civil and criminal allegations against Ranbaxy, a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Gurgaon, India. The company is alleged to have introduced adulterated—or tainted— drugs into interstate commerce, resulting in false or fraudulent claims being submitted to Washington’s Medicaid Program.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today Washington has joined a national settlement against the drug manufacturer Amgen, Inc., resolving allegations that Amgen violated certain state false claims acts by reporting inflated pricing data for its prescription drugs Aranesp, Enbrel, Epogen, Neulasta, Neupogen, and Sensipar.

OLYMPIA-- Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that Washington has joined with other states and the federal government in a $22.5 million settlement with Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (“Par”). The states allege Par promoted sales of the drug Megace ES for uses not approved as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and not covered by the State Medicaid programs.

In a case involving multiple jurisdictions, tracking the accused to Nigeria and Texas and back to Washington, a man charged with committing roughly $100,000 in Medicaid fraud finally pled guilty to 10 counts of First Degree Theft in Thurston County Superior Court today.

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Attorney General’s Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) today announced the resolution of cases against two women accused of criminal negligence and fraud at an Eatonville boarding home.

OLYMPIA – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced that Washington joined with other states and the federal government to reach an agreement with Amgen, Inc., settling allegations that the drug-maker illegally marketed several drugs.  

A man charged by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office for Medicaid fraud has been apprehended...Mba was extradited from Texas to Washington state by the Thurston County Sherriff’s Office and arraigned on Dec. 13, 2012 in Thurston County Superior Court. Bail was set at $100,000 and Mba was required to surrender his passports.  Mba operated Pacesetters Medical Equipment.  He is charged with billing Medicaid for incontinent supplies that were not provided to 17 Medicaid recipients, resulting in $106,730.64 in Medicaid payments to Mr. Mba to which he was not entitled.  His trial is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2013.

State attorneys general reach deal over Zyvox and Lyrica SEATTLE – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced that he and 33 other state attorneys general reached a $42.9 million settlement with Pfizer Inc. to resolve allegations that the company unlawfully promoted its drugs, Zyvox and Lyrica.  

 SEATTLE – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced that he and 36 other Attorneys General reached a record $181 million dollar settlement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson. McKenna and his colleagues allege that Janssen improperly marketed the antipsychotic drugs Risperdal, Risperdal Consta, Risperdal M-Tab and Invega.

OLYMPIA – Diana Esterly and Shawn Gronau, of Pierce County, were arraigned yesterday in Pierce County Superior Court, accused of overbilling the Medicaid program.