About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline



4 Int'l. In-House Counsel J. 1 (2010-2011)

handle is hein.journals/iihcj4 and id is 1 raw text is: 



International In-house Counsel Journal
Vol. 4, No. 13, Autumn 2010, 1




      The  Impact   of the Fraud   and  Abuse   Laws   on  Pharmaceutical
      Advertising and Marketing Compliance: A Manufacturer's
                                   Perspective


                       LESLIE   GLADSTONE RESTAINO
                General  Counsel,  Validus Pharmaceuticals,  USA


                               DAVID   RESTAINO
                       Partner,  Fox Rothschild  LLP, USA





The  intersection between the health care fraud and abuse  laws and pharmaceutical
marketing practices in the U.S. raises interesting compliance issues for pharmaceutical
manufacturers, particularly in light of the newly enacted federal health care reform
legislation.1 The legislation includes significant anti-fraud measures as well as additional
funding  to fight fraud  and abuse.2   Such  increased  scrutiny on pharmaceutical
promotional practices requires manufacturers to pay close attention to and comply with
the heath care laws, regulations and guidelines. Compliance is the only clear path to
minimizing exposure to potential liability.


1. Anti-Kickback   and  False Claim Laws
Under the federal health care program anti-kickback law3, it is illegal for any individual
to offer to pay to induce a person to:
              1.  refer an individual to a person for any item or service for
                  which payment  may  be made under a federal health care
                  program';
              2.  purchase or order such an item or service; or
              3.  arrange for or recommend purchasing or ordering such an
                  item or service.

Illegal payments include, directly or indirectly, kickbacks, bribes, rebates, cash or in
kind remuneration.  A  person need not have  actual knowledge of the anti-kickback
statue or a specific intent to violate the anti-kickback statute.


1 The health care reform legislation consists of H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable
  Care Act, and H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
2 An additional $10 MM/year for 2011-2020 and an additional $200 MM/year for 2011-2016 (H.R.
  3590, Sec. 6402 and Sec. 1304, respectively).
3 42 U.S.C. §1320a-7b.
4 A federal health care program is a health benefit program funded in whole or in part by the federal
  government and includes Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA health network, among others.


ISSN 1754-0607 print/ISSN 1754-0607 online


International In-house Counsel Journal