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Health care industry

Louisiana Attorney General Secures $202 Million from Gilead Sciences for Illegal Kickback Scheme

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has joined a coalition of 48 other attorneys general in securing a $202 million settlement from Gilead Sciences, Inc. for an illegal kickback scheme to promote its HIV medications. The scheme involved Gilead providing incentives to healthcare providers to prescribe its medications, resulting in millions of dollars of false claims submitted to government healthcare programs. The settlement includes $49 million for Medicaid programs nationwide, including $1,143,135 for Louisiana.

Key Takeaways:

  • The $202 million settlement is a result of a coalition of 49 attorneys general, including Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, investigating Gilead Sciences, Inc. for an illegal kickback scheme to promote its HIV medications.
  • Gilead Sciences, Inc. provided incentives to healthcare providers, including awards, meals, and travel expenses, to induce prescriptions, resulting in millions of dollars of false claims submitted to government healthcare programs.
  • The settlement includes $49 million for Medicaid programs nationwide, including $1,143,135 for Louisiana, which includes the Federal portion, restitution, relator's share, and additional damages.
  • The investigation found that Gilead Sciences, Inc. violated federal anti-kickback laws by providing gifts to healthcare providers who attended and spoke at promotional speaker programs for Gilead's HIV drugs from January 2011 to November 2017.
  • The company paid high-volume prescribers tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars to present as "HIV Speakers" and covered travel expenses, including those traveling long distances and to attractive destinations.
  • Gilead Sciences, Inc.'s internal compliance mechanisms failed to halt these violations, and the company maintained policies and procedures that failed to prevent its sales representatives from improperly offering incentives to induce prescriptions.
  • Joining Attorney General Murrill in securing settlements with Gilead Sciences, Inc. are the attorneys general of 45 other states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Statistics:

  • $202 million: Total settlement amount from Gilead Sciences, Inc. for an illegal kickback scheme to promote its HIV medications.
  • $49 million: Amount of the settlement for Medicaid programs nationwide, including $1,143,135 for Louisiana.
  • 2011-2017: Period during which Gilead Sciences, Inc. provided gifts to healthcare providers who attended and spoke at promotional speaker programs for Gilead's HIV drugs.
  • $1,143,135: Amount of the settlement for Louisiana, including the Federal portion, restitution, relator's share, and additional damages.
  • 49: Number of attorneys general, including Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who investigated Gilead Sciences, Inc. for an illegal kickback scheme.

Sources:

  • Louisiana Attorney General's Office, "Attorney General Murrill Secures Over $200 Million from Gilead Sciences for Paying Illegal Kickbacks" (July 18, 2025)
  • Original text: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Article/300

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