NHCAA Presents Investigation of the Year Award

DALLAS, Nov. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) today presented its Investigation of the Year Award to a team of Federal agencies for their extraordinary work on the broad-reaching case of United States of America v. Johnson & Johnson / Janssen Pharmaceuticals. This eight-year investigation of one of the largest global health care corporations, alleging misbranding, off-label marketing, and kickbacks relating to the prescription drugs Risperdal, Invega and Natrecor, resulted in more than $2.2 billion in fines, forfeiture and settlements to resolve criminal and civil liability.

This case represents the third largest health care fraud settlement in U.S. history and the largest for a single drug (the atypical antipsychotic Risperdal). In addition to the considerable monetary sanctions, the resolution also subjects Johnson & Johnson to strict requirements under a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). 

The awardees are:

"Culmination of this complex, lengthy investigation demonstrates yet again how tight coordination of multiple Federal law enforcement agencies has been reaping huge returns for taxpayers," said Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  "Further, the comprehensive OIG compliance agreement with Johnson & Johnson increases individual accountability for company board members, sales representatives, executives and management. The agreement also contains strong monitoring and reporting provisions to help ensure that the public is protected from future unlawful and potentially harmful off-label marketing." 

"The tenacity demonstrated by this Federal team for the better part of a decade represents the very best in anti-fraud investigative efforts," said NHCAA's Chief Executive Officer, Louis Saccoccio. "While the settlement amount is certainly notable, lying at the heart of this case is the duty to protect patients, many of whom represent the most vulnerable in our population—children, the elderly and those with mental disabilities. This case is an exceptional example of investigative collaboration that resulted in a historic anti-fraud success. NHCAA is proud to present this year's Investigation of the Year Award to this remarkable team of professionals."

The Investigation of the Year Award is being presented today at NHCAA's Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. The luncheon is a function of NHCAA's Annual Training Conference, where more than 1,200 public- and private-sector health care anti-fraud professionals are in attendance to learn about fraud trends and emerging schemes, as well as to explore innovative solutions to combat health care fraud.

Founded in 1985, the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association is the leading national organization focused exclusively on the fight against health care fraud. Our members comprise more than 100 private health insurers and those public-sector law enforcement and regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over health care fraud committed against both private payers and public programs.

SOURCE National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association

Related Links

http://www.nhcaa.org

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