Settlement Produces Money But No Apologies in Florida

Boehringer Ingelheim Corp., generic-drug manufacturer, is paying $8.5 million to settle fraud claims, yet the company still admits to no wrong-doing.

The claims are that the company inflated the price of generic drugs but charged the pharmacies less. In turn the pharmacies had a larger profit margin from Medicaid reimbursements. The larger gap between reported cost and actual cost brought more business from pharmacies.

It is calculated and blatantly wrong. Still the company just settles and thinks it has saved face. It seems to be a reoccurring theme between these big pharmaceutical companies. They settle so they can still claim "no wrongdoing."

I know it saves everybody money to settle, but I'd like to see more action taken against these people. Maybe 2010 will be the year that sees these unethical acts punished beyond a slap on the wrist and a ticket!

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