1. Medco to Pay $29.3 Million to Settle Complaints of Drug Switching.
- Author
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Freudenheim, Milt
- Subjects
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ACTIONS & defenses (Law) , *PHARMACEUTICAL services , *CONSUMER law , *FRAUD , *PHARMACEUTICAL policy , *PHARMACEUTICAL industry , *PATIENTS , *PHYSICIANS , *EMPLOYERS , *CONSUMERS , *PHARMACY , *PHARMACY management , *LAWYERS - Abstract
Reports that Medco Health Solutions, the largest pharmacy benefits management company in the U.S., will start telling patients, doctors and employers about billions of dollars in annual rebates that it received from drug manufacturers for promoting their products. How the agreement settles state and federal complaints that accused Medco of violating consumer protection and mail fraud laws by switching patients to drugs that added costs for patients and their health plans; Terms of the settlement; View that the settlement will be a precedent for other large pharmacy benefit managers, many of which are the subjects of state investigations; Comments of Patrick Meehan, the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where the federal suit was filed.
- Published
- 2004