Nursing Home Fines and Bonuses

Last year, the state fined 23 Iowa nursing homes $10,000 or more for providing substandard care. Some of those homes were also hit with federal fines and sanctions against their state licenses. Of those 23 homes, 16 stand to collect bonus Medicaid payments this year from state and federal taxpayers. The bonuses are tied to a state program that rewards nursing homes for providing quality, cost-effective care.

Merck Says 44K Sign for Vioxx Settlement

More than 44,000 people have signed up for shares of a $4.85 billion settlement over the withdrawn painkiller Vioxx, a sign that the deal is on track to go forward, Merck & Co. announced Monday. Of roughly 47,000 people who registered for the settlement earlier this year, more than 44,000 have submitted all or some of the paperwork necessary for enrollment in the deal, Merck said in a news release.

Jury Awards $30 million in Mesothelioma case

A six-member jury in Superior Court in Bergen County, New Jersey, ruled on Feb. 26 to award the family of Mark Buttitta a settlement of $30.3 million. The judgment is one of the largest ever in asbestos litigation in the state. Buttitta died of mesothelioma just before Christmas 2002, at age 50, after being diagnosed in 2001.

Baxter to proceed with recall of remaining heparin sodium vial products

DEERFIELD, Ill.,  - Baxter International Inc. announced today that the company is proceeding with the voluntary recall of all remaining lots and doses of its heparin sodium injection multi-dose, single-dose vials and HEP-LOCK heparin flush products.

AstraZeneca Unit Must Pay $215 Million in Pricing Suit

A state court jury awarded Alabama $215 million in its Medicaid drug-price fraud suit against an AstraZeneca PLC unit.

Dark side of pill to help smokers kick habit

When Pfizer's anti-smoking pill Chantix came on the market 18 months ago, it was touted as more effective than existing treatments at helping break the deadly nicotine addiction. But the widespread use of the drug has led to unexpected side effects, possibly including suicidal behavior, raising concerns at the Food and Drug Administration and within the medical and smoking treatment communities.

Jury Orders AstraZeneca to Pay Damages in Suit

A state-court jury awarded Alabama $215 million in its Medicaid drug-price-fraud suit against an AstraZeneca PLC unit.

AstraZeneca to File Appeal Against Alabama Court's Verdict on Medicaid Drug Price Lawsuit

UK-based pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) on Friday confirmed that it intends to appeal yesterday's verdict by a state court jury in Alabama, which awarded the state $215 million in damages after finding that the company overcharged the Alabama State Medicaid Agency on its Medicaid drug price.

Astra must pay $215 Million - Alabama Jury Rules Drugmaker Overcharged Medicaid System, Appeal Planned

AstraZeneca PLC must pay Alabama $215 million after a state court ruled the company inflated prices for drugs it sold to the state's Medicaid system.

Jury Rules Monsanto Polluted Town

A jury on Friday determined that Monsanto Co. polluted an Alabama town with PCBs, a verdict that sets the stage for more trials on claims that the contamination harmed the