County Sues Drug Companies Over Medicaid Overcharging

Onondaga County is suing 70 leading national pharmaceutical companies, claiming they defrauded taxpayers of millions of dollars by overcharging Medicaid through inflated drug prices. The federal court lawsuit alleges the companies have broken state and federal Medicaid laws by committing fraud, using deceptive trade practices, and seeking "unjust enrichment." As a result, Onondaga County overpaid Medicaid by at least $2.5 million in 2003, said attorney Joanne Cicala.

Newsday (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--prescriptiondrugs0209feb09,0,5589269.story)