Kentucky is one of the most aggressive states in the nation for rooting out pharmaceutical fraud, according to a report released Thursday by a non-profit watchdog group.
Public Citizen, a Washington D.C. group that focuses on consumer and other issues, examined states' efforts to go after pharmaceutical companies for deceptive practices. The report looked at all legal actions and settlements by the federal government and by the states.
Since 1991, Kentucky has pursued the most claims against pharmaceutical companies and reached more than 30 settlements.
States can file individual claims against a pharmaceutical company or join other lawsuits brought by other states. Kentucky has pursued the most single-state settlements with 17.
Attorney General Jack Conway's office oversees Medicaid fraud, which prosecutes claims against pharmaceutical companies. "This report is a testament to both the hard work of General Conway's staff and his ongoing commitment to combating pharmaceutical fraud," said Shelley Johnson, a spokeswoman for Conway. "Since General Conway took office in 2008, his Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control has recovered or been awarded more than $265 million for the state and federal Medicaid programs."
Since 2009, state governments have finalized more than twice as many settlements, for more than six times as much money, as they had during the previous 18 years, according to the report.
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