Here are five takeaways:
1. A recent Reuters report found the Pentagon spent $57 million on EpiPen over the last year. This figure is up from $9 million in 2008.
2. The department spent more on EpiPen due to Mylan raising the prices as well as more sales. Additionally, Mylan paid lowered debates to the Defense Department because the company misclassified the drug as a generic.
3. Mylan recently agreed to pay a $465 million settlement for its EpiPen misclassification. Last year, Medicaid paid $797 million on EpiPen, after rebates and dispensing fees. CMS found, however, Medicaid should have paid much less for the drug.
4. In their letter to Mylan Chief Executive Heather Bresch, the senators wrote they were “alarmed that Mylan may have overcharged our military for this life-saving drug.” This group of senators also asked the DOJ to look into whether Mylan violated the False Claims Act by knowingly misclassifying EpiPen as a generic.
5. Earlier this month, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrissey claimed Mylan’s settlement to the federal government is “woefully deficient,” and vowed to reject the settlement. West Virginia Attorney General Morrissey said the payment does not make up for Mylan’s actions and does not send the right message to other pharmaceutical companies operating in the Medicaid market.
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