Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating reports that Gilead Sciences, Inc., a major pharmaceutical company, engaged in an illegal kickback scheme by offering healthcare providers financial incentives, luxury meals, and paid travel to promote its HIV medications over competitors’. These alleged actions led to fraudulent claims submitted to the District of Columbia’s Medicaid program, in violation of the False Claims Act.
Gilead Sciences’ Speaker Programs Allegedly Used to Influence Medicaid Prescriptions
According to a settlement announced by the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, led by Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, Gilead operated “HIV Speaker Programs” from 2011 to 2017 that:
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Paid 548 healthcare providers over $23.7 million in honoraria, luxury dining, and travel;
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Were designed to influence prescription behavior, steering Medicaid providers toward Gilead’s HIV drugs;
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Violated the District’s False Claims Act by incentivizing prescriptions based on financial gain rather than medical need.
These improper inducements resulted in fraudulent Medicaid billing at the taxpayers’ expense.
Gilead Pays $202 Million in Multistate and Federal Kickback Settlement
As part of a broader multistate and federal settlement, Gilead agreed to pay $202 million to resolve the kickback allegations:
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The District of Columbia will recover $316,413.92, including $256,295.27 for the District’s Medicaid program.
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Over $49 million from the total settlement will be distributed to various state Medicaid programs across the country.
While Gilead did not admit wrongdoing, the company agreed to factual admissions as part of the settlement.
Were You Affected by Gilead’s Prescription Practices?
If you:
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Are a healthcare provider who participated in or was affected by Gilead’s speaker programs
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Are a Medicaid patient prescribed HIV medications during this time period
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Or believe you were impacted by fraudulent prescription practices
— you may have a legal claim.
Contact Migliaccio & Rathod LLP by filling out the form on this page, emailing [email protected], or calling (202) 470-3520 for a free and confidential consultation.