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Health care industry

Connecticut Attorney General Secures $202 Million Settlement from Gilead Sciences Over Illegal Kickbacks

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, leading a coalition of 48 other attorneys general, has secured a $202 million settlement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. over an illegal kickback scheme involving its HIV medications. The settlement was reached in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice and provides $49 million for Medicaid programs nationwide, including $582,125.18 for Connecticut's Medicaid program. The scheme involved Gilead providing incentives to health care providers to prescribe its medications, resulting in millions of dollars of false claims submitted to government health care programs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Gilead Sciences, Inc. engaged in an illegal kickback scheme involving its HIV medications, providing incentives such as awards, meals, and travel expenses to health care providers to prescribe its medications.
  • The scheme resulted in millions of dollars of false claims submitted to government health care programs, including Connecticut's Medicaid program.
  • The settlement provides $49 million for Medicaid programs nationwide, including $582,125.18 for Connecticut's Medicaid program.
  • Gilead paid high-volume prescribers tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars to present as "HIV Speakers" at promotional speaker programs.
  • Gilead's internal compliance mechanisms failed to halt the violations, and the company's policies and procedures failed to prevent its sales representatives from improperly offering incentives to induce prescriptions.
  • 48 attorneys general from across the U.S. joined Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in securing the settlement with Gilead Sciences, Inc.
  • The settlement was reached in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice and approved by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Statistics:

  • $202 million: Total settlement amount secured from Gilead Sciences, Inc.
  • $49 million: Amount allocated for Medicaid programs nationwide
  • $582,125.18: Amount allocated for Connecticut's Medicaid program
  • $140 million: Amount allocated for Medicare, Tricare, and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)
  • 48: Number of attorneys general joining Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in securing the settlement with Gilead Sciences, Inc.
  • 7: Number of years Gilead Sciences, Inc. engaged in the illegal kickback scheme (January 2011 to November 2017)

Sources:

  • [Connecticut Attorney General Office website: Attorney General Tong Announces $202 Million Settlement with Gilead Sciences Over Illegal Kickbacks](https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2025-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-announces-settlement-with-gilead-sciences-over-illegal-kickbacks)

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