Idaho Gets $1.6 Million in Drug Settlement
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's share of the largest health care fraud settlement in U.S. history will come to more than $1.6 million. Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced the state's share of the $3 billion GlaxoSmithKline settlement on Tuesday. The British drug maker has agreed to pay the fines for criminal and civil violations involving 10 popular drugs, including Paxil, Wellbutrin and the asthma drug Advair. The state and federal governments alleged that Glaxo unlawfully marketed the drugs for uses not approved by the FDA, made false representations regarding drug safety and offered kickbacks to medical professionals, among other charges. Wasden says that out of the $1.6 million earmarked for Idaho, $732,750 will be returned to the state's Medicaid program and $877,679 will be deposited in the state's general fund.