“When companies use kickbacks to influence prescribing, they erode trust in healthcare providers,” said special agent Helsing.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A. Inc has agreed to $13,670,921 amid allegations of submitting false claims to Medicare and other federal health care programmes by paying kickbacks to healthcare providers to induce prescriptions of Trintellix, an anti-depressant medication that Takeda marketed and sold to treat major depressive disorder.
Assistant attorney general Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division noted that such conduct “can erode the trust that patients place in their healthcare providers and lead to higher drug costs for American taxpayers” in a statement on Thursday.
“This settlement demonstrates the continued commitment of my office to ensure that patients’ best interests remain paramount,” said U.S. attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California. “Prescribing decisions should not be influenced by drug companies’ payments or side perks made available to physicians.”
According to acting deputy inspector general for investigations Scott Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the alleged kickback schemes undermine the trust that patients place in their providers and federal health care programmes.
“This settlement underscores that HHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will investigate and hold accountable entities that attempt to disguise purported...
“When companies use kickbacks to influence prescribing, they erode trust in healthcare providers,” said special agent Helsing. Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A. Inc has agreed to $13,670,921 amid alle...