Penalty Amount
$36,500,000
Minnesota AG Ellison and a coalition of 37 AGs and the federal government reached a $36.5 million settlement with CVS Pharmacy, Inc. for allegedly submitting false Medicaid claims related to insulin pens from 2010-2020. CVS overbilled government healthcare programs by requesting reimbursement for ineligible refills and under-reporting days of supply.
CVS will pay $36.5 million nationally, including over $850,000 to Minnesota, with more than $400,000 in restitution to Minnesota's Medicaid program.
In-house legal teams should review contracts with government healthcare programs, pharmacy benefit managers, and any vendor agreements related to billing and dispensing. They should ensure clauses require accurate billing, compliance with the False Claims Act, and proper record-keeping. Also, review auto-refill system contracts to prevent premature refills and ensure days of supply are accurately reported.
Entity
CVS Pharmacy, Inc.
Industry
Retail"settlement with CVS Pharmacy, Inc."
"The $36.5 million national settlement"
"in violation of the False Claims Act"
"CVS deliberately overbilled government healthcare programs"
"CVS will pay over $850,000 for its conduct in Minnesota, including more than $400,000 in direct restitution to Minnesota’s Medical Assistance Program"
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a consumer alert explaining how veterans, their families, and others who believe Trajector Holdings owes them money can file claims in the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The release announces no privacy violation, enforcement penalty, or remedy against the company.
Minnesota and 39 other attorneys general filed a notice in Character Technologies, Inc.’s bankruptcy proceedings raising concerns about the company’s safety and privacy practices and the sensitive information it holds, including children’s private chatbot conversations. The states seek protections for consumers in any sale or transfer of the business or assets; the filing does not impose a penalty or establish a final remedy.
The Minnesota Attorney General filed an Assurance of Discontinuance requiring Auto Tech Donations, Inc. to dissolve after finding that its solicitations and governance did not comply with state requirements. Its president was banned from forming or serving as an officer or director of nonprofits and must provide restitution to donors whose vehicles he resold for personal benefit.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and a coalition of 26 states, counties, and cities filed a lawsuit challenging NHTSA’s rule weakening fuel-economy standards for new cars and light trucks. The coalition alleges the rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act; the press release describes a lawsuit filing, not a monetary penalty or final judgment.
$35.0M
Minnesota, the FTC, and a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general reached a proposed settlement with Corteva over alleged loyalty programs that restricted pesticide distributors from buying lower-cost generic products. Corteva must end the challenged practices, comply with restrictions for 10 years, and pay $35 million to the state plaintiffs, including $1.25 million to Minnesota.
A federal court granted summary judgment to Minnesota AG Keith Ellison and a coalition of 22 attorneys general in their lawsuit challenging the CFPB Acting Director’s decision not to seek funding. The court held the refusal unlawful and required the current Acting Director to request necessary funding so the CFPB can continue operating.