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Friday, March 29, 2024

Walgreens-owned NY pharmacy to pay $2.5M for false Medicaid claims

Attorny general eric t schneiderman

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Monday his office had reached a $2.5 million settlement with with Trinity Homecare LLC over claims the company filed false Medicaid billings. | New York Attorney General

ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A pharmacy primarily owned by Walgreens will pay $2.5 million to the State of New York to settle a lawsuit that accused the pharmacy of filing false Medicaid claims, said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Monday.

Trinity Homecare LLC was investigated by Schneiderman's office after a whistleblower claim alleged improper and false Medicaid billing over drugs that were prescribed mainly to hemophilia patients.

Schneiderman said the pharmacy had the drugs delivered to a patient's home, but they were left outside the house without a signature by the patient. Schneiderman said deliveries of the drugs can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

“The rules are plain: Pharmacies that deliver drugs to Medicaid patients must document that the patient received that medication – and in the right amount,” Schneiderman said. “The hemophilia drugs dispensed and sent to patients in this case, per delivery, can cost as much as a new car. Overbilling that drains dollars from our important Medicaid program harms the most vulnerable New Yorkers. We cannot allow it.”

Additionally, Trinity also was accused of seeking Medicaid payments for an amount of drugs that was a greater amount than it could document were delivered to patients, Schneiderman said.

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