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State to get $11 million from Merck settlement Friday, Feb 8, 2008 Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas' Medicaid program will receive about $11 million as the result of two settlements between drug maker Merck & Co., Inc., the federal government and attorneys general across the country, state Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced Thursday. The settlements resolve allegations that Merck did not pay rebates to state Medicaid programs on three prescription drugs, as required by federal law. Merck is the manufacturer of Zocor, a cholesterol-lowering drug, Vioxx, an anti-inflammatory that has been pulled from the market, and Pepcid, a drug used to treat ulcers. Total value of the two settlements is $649 million. Merck also entered into a corporate integrity agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services inspector general to ensure that the company complies with federal health care requirements when marketing, selling and promoting its products. In a news release, McDaniel said the case "should send a message to other pharmaceutical companies" that may try to skirt the rebate laws. |
