Omnicare pharmacy company to pay out $124 million
From the article:
WASHINGTON – Omnicare Inc., the nation’s largest provider of pharmaceuticals and pharmacy services to nursing homes, has agreed to pay $124.24 million for allegedly offering improper financial incentives to skilled nursing facilities in return for their continued selection of Omnicare to supply drugs to elderly Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, the Justice Department announced today.
Donald Gale, the first whistleblower and a former Omnicare pharmacist, filed the lawsuit in 2010 in Cleveland in U.S. District Court.
“Omnicare provided improper discounts in return for the opportunity to provide medication to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “Nursing homes should select their pharmacy provider based on the best quality, service and cost to the residents, not based on improper discounts to the nursing facility.”
Donald Gale, a former Omnicare employee, will receive $17.24 million
This is NOT THE FIRST TIME that Omnicare has paid > 100 MILLION in the last decade… because of fraud and abuse.. apparently the stock market received this news with a YAWN.. since Omnicare (OCR) stock is down today 0.22% and within $1.00 of a 52 yr high.. Apparently the stock market understands/condones illegal activities by corporate America to generate a profits.
When I was a Medicare Part B provider… committing Medicare/Medicaid fraud was $ 25K fine and 5 yr in prison for EACH CLAIM.. I didn’t notice in the article where anyone from Omnicare was GOING TO JAIL !
Filed under: General Problems
Leave a Reply