You can add Amgen (AMGN) and Astellas Pharma (ALPMY) to the growing list of drug makers that have finalized agreements with federal authorities over accusations that donations paid to charities actually were kickbacks to Medicare patients as a way to cover their out-of-pocket costs.
A federal law known as the Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits pharmaceutical companies from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration — which includes money or anything else of value — to induce Medicare or other federal programs to purchase their drugs.
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