Increase use of Risperdal. Johnson & Johnson has been charged with paying kickbacks to the Omnicare nursing home chain in order to increase the use of its drugs at the chain’s homes. While Johnson & Johnson was allegedly paying kickbacks, federal prosecutors claim that Omnicare’s annual purchases of the company’s drugs, including Risperdal and Levaquin, […]
Increase use of Risperdal. Johnson & Johnson has been charged with paying kickbacks to the Omnicare nursing home chain in order to increase the use of its drugs at the chain’s homes. While Johnson & Johnson was allegedly paying kickbacks, federal prosecutors claim that Omnicare’s annual purchases of the company’s drugs, including Risperdal and Levaquin, nearly tripled to more than $280 million.
In November, Omnicare agreed to pay $98 million to settle charges related to the alleged Johnson & Johnson kickback scheme. As part of the settlement, Omnicare entered into a corporate integrity agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services.
According to allegations contained in a complaint filed by the U.S. Attorneys office in Boston, from 1999 to 2004 Johnson & Johnson paid kickbacks to Omnicare in a variety of forms, including rebates, grants and educational funding.
The claims against Johnson & Johnson were initiated by whistleblowers who could receive a share of any money the government collects.
The complaint charges that Johnson & Johnson was aware that Omnicare pharmacists made recommendations to physicians about what drugs should be prescribed to home residents.
The complaint repeatedly mentions internal Johnson & Johnson e-mails and statements detailing the relationship with Omnicare. The government claims that those documents show that Johnson & Johnson came to see Omnicare pharmacists as an extension of its sales force.
Prosecutors allege that Johnson & Johnson’s conduct caused false or fraudulent claims to be filed with Medicaid, the public health program for the poor and disabled.
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