Hood presents check for $35M to state lawmakers

JACKSON — Attorney General Jim Hood has delivered a check to lawmakers for over $35 million in monies recovered by his office.

As part of the Average Wholesale Price (AWP) litigation, the $35 million returned to the state includes more than $12 million from a settlement with Barr Laboratories Inc., IVAX Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sicor Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

The settlement addressed Medicaid fraud claims and consumer protection violations involving pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Also included in the $35 million returned was $5.9 million from two other AWP settlements — one with Alpharma USPD Inc. and Purepac Pharmaceutical Co., and another with Par Pharmaceutical Companies Inc and Par Pharmaceutical Inc.

In addition to the AWP recoveries, the amount returned to the state includes approximately $840,000 as part of a consumer settlement with Abbott Laboratories involving allegations of unfair and deceptive practices in the promotion and sale of the drug depakote.

The remainder of the $35 million, approximately $16 million, comes from previously announced settlements with Microsoft and Facility Construction Management as well as funds from the nationwide mortgage settlement.

To date, Hood’s office has recovered more than $650 million in taxpayer dollars.