Prescription drugs

February 7, 2008 -- Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker today announced that Georgia will receive $17.4 million as part of two separate global settlements totaling $649 million with Merck & Co., Inc.. The settlements involve 49 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government, and concern the Merck drugs Zocor, Vioxx, and Pepcid. The agreements with Merck resolve allegations that the company failed to pay rebates due state Medicaid Programs under the Federal Medicaid Drug Rebate statute.    » read more »

McCollum’s new civil enforcement bureau helps negotiate settlements resolving allegations that Merck failed to pay rebates due to state Medicaid programs

February 7, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that Florida will receive a total of $32.8 million as part of two separate global settlements totaling $649 million with Merck & Co., Inc. The settlements resolve allegations that the company failed to pay rebates for at least three prescription drugs due to state Medicaid Programs under the Federal Medicaid Drug Rebate statute.    » read more »

Crawford & Venango County prescription drug ring

February 6, 2008 -- HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, along with local police, are in the process of arresting as many as 18 suspected drug dealers accused of illegally distributing and selling powerful prescription pain medication in Crawford and Venango counties.    » read more »

Avoid Break In Coverage

February 6, 2008 -- Apply online at www.cbrx.il.gov for faster processing or call the Senior Helpline at 1-800-252-8966 or Circuit Breaker at 1-800-624-2459 for more information    » read more »

Newark narcotics network supplied OxyContin to Bronx, N.Y., ring

February 4, 2008 -- TRENTON – New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that a mother and son pleaded guilty today to racketeering charges for their roles in a Newark-based narcotics ring that distributed millions of dollars a year in illegal prescription painkillers such as OxyContin.    » read more »

January 29, 2008 -- Oklahoma City -- As the costs of prescription drugs continue to rise, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry is proposing an initiative this legislative session aimed at giving consumers information about where to find the most affordable prices for pharmaceuticals.    » read more »

State, Feds Partner with Boy Scouts to Find Residents Qualified for Drug Program

December 20, 2007 -- Montpelier, Vt. – Vermont Governor Jim Douglas today joined officials from Medicare and the Green Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America to encourage eligible senior citizens to enroll in the federal Medicare prescription drug program.    » read more »

Provides discounts to individuals, families and seniors without prescription drug coverage

December 20, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today announced the launch of the Florida Discount Drug Card, which will provide eligible Floridians savings on drugs at over 3,000 participating pharmacies. An easy-to-use Web site, www.FloridaDiscountDrugCard.com, is available to help consumers learn which drugs are discounted and find participating pharmacies. Participants can also choose a mail order option by calling the Florida Discount Drug Card help line.    » read more »

Hearing Demonstrated Enormous Potential, Benefits Of Electronic Prescriptions

December 17, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – After a Senate hearing made clear that new federal regulations allowing electronic prescribing for controlled substances are badly-needed and long-overdue, 18 senators joined U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in calling on Attorney General Michael Mukasey to review the issue and urged the Drug Enforcement Administration to issue new rules promptly.    » read more »

Dallas-based Apothecure Inc. faulted for mixture of medication linked to deaths

December 11, 2007 -- DALLAS – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today joined an enforcement action against a Dallas-based drug manufacturer and pharmacist. The state charged Apothecure Inc. with formulating a highly potent injectable painkiller mixture that is associated with three deaths in Oregon and Washington.    » read more »

November 30, 2007 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon has recovered more than $125,000 for the Medicaid program through a settlement with drug manufacturer Medicis. The agreement with Nixon, other state Attorneys General and the U.S. Department of Justice resolves their concerns that Medicis improperly engaged in off-label marketing of the topical drug Loprox.    » read more »

Nov. 27, 2007 -- The Montana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) director says there is free help available to those in the process of signing up for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.

But, the key is to call now to schedule an appointment before all time slots are filled, said SHIP director Kimme Evermann, of the Senior and Long Term Care Division for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.    » read more »

November 19, 2007 -- NEWARK – Duane Reade International Inc. (‘Duane Reade”) has agreed to pay a $175,000 civil penalty, plus reimburse the state $25,000 in investigative costs and attorneys’ fees, as part of the settlement resolving a lawsuit filed last December regarding the sale of expired and/or mispriced non-prescription drugs, infant formula, baby food and other products at the company’s New Jersey drug stores.    » read more »

Funding comes from prescription drug plea agreement

November 15, 2007 -- Richmond – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that the Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) will receive $20 million as part of the plea agreement involving the Purdue Frederick Company, Inc. John Brownlee, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, will present the funds at PMP’s annual conference on Nov. 16.    » read more »

November 15, 2007 -- HARRISBURG - A Berks County podiatrist was arrested today on charges that he was fraudulently writing and obtaining prescriptions for his personal use.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett identified the defendant as Stuart F. Deitcher, D.P.M, 46, with a last known address of 1142 Perkiomen Ave., Reading.    » read more »