AGO News Releases With Topic: Medicaid

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.

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

 Daughter frequently billed Medicaid while father splurged on a new home, Seahawks tickets OLYMPIA — Today the Washington State Attorney General’s Office announced that the husband and daughter of a home-healthcare program client will serve jail time for stealing $111,705 from state and federal health care programs.

Settlements involving consumer protection, Medicaid claims over illegal marketing of Depakote SEATTLE – Working with other states, attorneys for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office have recovered more than $12 million through settlements with Illinois-based Abbott Laboratories, accused of illegally marketing an anti-seizure drug. The state will recover more than $10 million, split with the federal government, in a multi-state Medicaid fraud case against the company and more than $2 million from a consumer protection case.

Arrest warrant issued for former medical equipment supplier believed to have left the country OLYMPIA — A Thurston County Superior Court Judge Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for the owner of medical supply company accused of Medicaid fraud. The warrant was requested so that the defendant can be arrested should he return to the United States.

OLYMPIA — An ophthalmologist today pled guilty to stealing more than $51,000 from state and federal health care programs. In July, state prosecutors charged Dr. Behrouz Pirouzkar with three counts of First Degree Attempted Identity Theft and two counts of Medicaid False Statement.