- —
Attorney General Sam Olens has announced that the State of Georgia, as part of a national settlement with 29 other states against the McKesson Corporation, has resolved allegations that McKesson violated the Federal False Claims Act and various state false claims acts. The State alleges that McKesson reported inflated pricing data for a large number of prescription drugs, causing the Medicaid program to overpay for those drugs. Georgia Medicaid is funded jointly by the federal government and the State of Georgia.
The drug pricing data at issue in this settlement concerns the “Average Wholesale Price” (AWP) benchmark used by most states, including Georgia, to set pharmacy reimbursement rates for pharmaceuticals dispensed to Georgia Medicaid beneficiaries. The State alleges that McKesson, one of the largest drug wholesalers in the country, reported inflated AWP pricing data to First Data Bank, a publisher of drug prices, thereby inflating many AWPs that are used by Georgia to set reimbursement. In April, the federal government settled the federal portion of this lawsuit for over $187 million; this agreement recovers the state Medicaid share for Georgia.
The State of Georgia’s recovery through the national multi-state settlement is $5,363,042.05. The overall recovery attributable to Georgia’s Medicaid program, which includes McKesson’s April 2012 payments to the federal government for damages suffered by Georgia’s Medicaid program and the state settlement announced today, is $13,738,167.51.
The suit was filed in US District Court in New Jersey.
Top News
McKesson agrees to pay Georgia Medicaid over $5 million to settle allegations of inflating prescription drug costs
-
-
VHS graduation to be broadcast online
Valdosta City Schools along with Valdosta High School will celebrate the academic careers of our students on Friday, May 24, at its annual Commencement Ceremony beginning at 7:00 pm at Valdosta State University's Physical Education Complex.
-
VDT Weekend Update
News Reporter Caitlin Barker speaks to Bernard Bulemu and Eric Mathis, representatives from the South Georgia Regional Library about their summer programs for kids, teens and adults during the month of June, as well as lists fun summer camps taking place in the Valdosta area.
-
Man shot by FBI had ties to Boston bombing suspect
A Chechen immigrant shot to death in Florida after an altercation with an FBI agent implicated himself in a triple slaying that officials believe may have been connected to Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev, authorities said.
-
WHO: Scientific red tape mars efforts vs. virus
International efforts to combat a new pneumonia-like virus that has now killed 22 people are being slowed by unclear rules and competition for the potentially profitable rights to disease samples, the head of the World Health Organization warned Thursday.
-
Jurors deadlock on Jodi Arias penalty; retrial set
Jurors who spent five months determining Jodi Arias’ fate couldn’t decide whether she should get life in prison or die for murdering her boyfriend, sending prosecutors back to the drawing board to rehash the shocking case of sex, lies and violence to another 12 people.
-
Lt. Gov. visits Valdosta
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle delivered a message of optimism and preference for prudent investments for Valdosta and Lowndes County Thursday morning, which he is confident will pull Georgia out of recession, build jobs and launch Valdosta into a new business heyday.
-
I-5 bridge collapses in Washington state
An Interstate 5 bridge over a river north of Seattle collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said.
-
Today in History for Friday, May 24, 2013
Today is Friday, May 24, the 144th day of 2013. There are 221 days left in the year.
-
Parents fuming over locked doors at graduation
Several parents of Spelman College graduates are furious after locked doors prevented them from seeing their children’s commencement.
-
Octogenarians race to be oldest Everest climber
An 80-year-old Japanese extreme skier who climbed Mount Everest five years ago, but just missed becoming the oldest man to reach the summit, is back on the mountain to make another attempt at the title.
- More Top News Headlines
-
VHS graduation to be broadcast online
