On October 15, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced that his office reached a $27 million settlement with Precision Toxicology to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims to government health programs for medically unnecessary urine drug tests and provided illegal kickbacks to physicians.
In 2024, the landscape of state attorneys general (AGs) is poised for significant change, with numerous elections and regulatory actions reshaping priorities and enforcement strategies. This dynamic environment reflects the critical role AGs play in addressing key issues across various sectors, from environmental regulations and consumer protection to health care and privacy. As state AGs continue to influence policy and legal frameworks, their actions will have far-reaching implications for businesses and consumers alike. Troutman Pepper’s State AG team is pleased to provide you with this mid-year review summarizing the activities in this regulatory space over the past six months.
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina have reached a $500,000 settlement with Sharon Raynes Halliday and RAPHA Healthcare Services LLC, resolving a false claims lawsuit filed in July 2022 related to requests for payment submitted to the North Carolina Medicaid program.
On January 23, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that Martin Shkreli, CEO of Vyera Pharmaceuticals (Vyera), violated federal and state laws by engaging in illegal and anticompetitive behavior.
On August 11, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 2222 (Public Act 103-0526) into law — bolstering Illinois’ antitrust prevention efforts by expanding the oversight purview of its Attorney General’s (AG) office with respect to health care transactions. Under the new law, the Illinois AG now has the power to review and assess certain “covered transactions” entered into between health care facilities and providers.