Pfizer Latest Company To Settle With DOJ Over Patient Assistance Programs

Pfizer agreed to pay $23.85 million to settle claims that it violated the False Claims Act by funneling money through a patient assistance program to pay the copays of Medicare beneficiaries that would have qualified to receive Pfizer’s drugs for free under the company’s free drug program. Pfizer’s settlement follows similar pacts between other drug companies and the government, leading industry attorneys to advise their clients exercise caution when backing third-party assistance. “Pfizer used a third party to saddle Medicare...