Health · Pharma & Biotech · 3 hrs ago
Gilead to pay $45 million to settle Texas Medicaid kickback allegations
Gilead Sciences agreed to pay $45 million to settle allegations brought by Texas over prescriptions paid for by the state’s Medicaid program.
The state accused the drugmaker of using free nursing and support services to influence prescriptions for its medicines.
A whistleblower also sued, alleging Gilead paid another company to hire nurses who recommended its drugs.
The case is part of a wider series of claims over drug marketing, including lawsuits filed nearly a decade ago against several drugmakers over nurses helping patients refill prescriptions.
Texas said the practices led to false claims being submitted to government programs.
The settlement resolves Texas’s allegations; the supplied information does not say whether Gilead admitted wrongdoing or describe any further steps.
Gilead Sciences agreed to pay $45 million to settle allegations involving prescriptions paid for by Texas Medicaid.
Texas alleged that the drugmaker paid kickbacks that improperly influenced prescriptions.
A whistleblower lawsuit claimed Gilead paid another company to hire registered nurses to recommend its drugs.
The lawsuit also alleged that Gilead offered free support services to doctors to encourage prescriptions, leading to false claims to government programs.
- Who
- Gilead Sciences agreed to pay the settlement. Texas and a whistleblower pursued the allegations.
- What
- Gilead agreed to pay $45 million to settle allegations of kickbacks and improper influence on prescriptions.
- When
- The settlement was reported on October 22, 2026.
- Where
- Texas, involving prescriptions paid for by the Texas Medicaid program.
- Why
- Texas alleged that kickbacks and free support services improperly influenced prescriptions and led to false claims to government programs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Health Choice Advocates and related firms filed whistleblower lawsuits against several drugmakers over nurse services tied to prescriptions.
STAT reported that Gilead agreed to pay $45 million to settle Texas Medicaid kickback allegations.
- Settlement amount
- $45 million
- Company
- Gilead Sciences
- Program
- Texas Medicaid
- Whistleblower group
- Health Choice Advocates and related firms
- Nurse services
- Registered nurses were allegedly hired to recommend drugs and help ensure prescriptions were refilled.