The Boston Herald reports
A Boston personal injury firm has agreed to pay $300,000 over alleged kickbacks from a pharmacy that included a yacht excursion and holiday outing, the AG’s office said.
Keches Law Group PC “admitted referring approximately 800 of its clients and potential clients to Injured Workers Pharmacy to fill prescriptions in exchange for payments totaling about $90,000,” Attorney General Maura Healey’s office announced.
A judge still needs to approve the deal, but it avoids a trial.
“Law firms shouldn’t break the law, and they certainly shouldn’t profit off their clients’ injuries through illegal kickbacks,” Healey said, adding the deal “directs much-needed funds to our state.”
The AG said the case involved “two agreements” with Injured Workers Pharmacy paying for Keches’ social events — including an X1 racing event, a yacht outing and a nearly $24,000 holiday luncheon — “in exchange for referrals.”
The cash from the fine will be used for the state’s Municipal Naloxone Bulk Purchase Trust Fund, at $100,00, and $200,000 will go into the general fund for penalties, fees and costs.
Naloxone is used to reverse opioid overdoses.
Injured Workers Pharmacy, the AG pointed out, paid an $11 million settlement a year ago to resolve allegations that it “failed to implement adequate safeguards against unlawful and dangerous dispensing, resulting in the shipment of thousands of potentially illegitimate controlled substance prescriptions across the country.”
AG forces Boston law firm to pay $300,000 over yacht, holiday outings