CORRECTED - Walgreen pays $35 mln to settle Medicaid claims
June 4th, 2008 | by admin |(Corrects to add dropped word million in headline)
WASHINGTON, June 4 (Reuters) - Walgreen Co (WAG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) agreedto pay $35 million to settle claims it improperly switchedpatients to more expensive versions of three drugs to claimmore money from Medicaid, the Justice Department said onWednesday.
The Justice Department said some Medicaid patients who wereprescribed ranitidine, fluoxetine or Eldepryl were given moreexpensive versions from 2001 to 2005.
Fluoxetine is an antidepressant, ranitidine is an antacid,and Eldepryl is used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
Medicaid is a state and federal health insurance programfor the poor.
“This is our third settlement with a company that hasengaged in improper drug switching, and it represents thegovernment’s continuing commitment to vigorously pursue fraudin government health care programs,” said Gregory Katsas,acting assisting attorney general for the Civil Division. (Reporting by Diane Bartz; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
