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Class 1 (Medicare Part B) Consumer Home Page
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Please note that the relevant deadlines for filing a claim, an objection to the
settlement or a request for exclusion have been temporarily suspended until further
notice. Consumers can still file claims during this period and are urged to do so.
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If You Made, or Are Obligated To Make, a full cash payment or a Percentage Co-Payment
for Certain Drugs Under Medicare Part B, from January 1, 1991 to January 1, 2005,
You May Be Able To Get Money Back
The Covered Drug List
This Class Action Lawsuit May Affect Your Rights.
There is a Proposed Settlement with several drug manufacturers concerning approximately
200 drugs. These drugs are used for the treatment of many medial conditions and
they are often, but not always injected in a doctor’s office or clinic. The name
of the lawsuit is In re: Pharmaceutical Industry Average Wholesale Price Litigation;
Docket No. 01-CV-12257-PBS, MDL No. 1456.
What is this Lawsuit About?
This lawsuit is NOT about whether these drugs are safe or effective. This lawsuit
is about the amount that you were charged fro the drugs.
The Average Wholesale Price (“AWP”) is used to set reimbursement amounts that are
paid by a) Medicare and its beneficiaries, b) private health insurers, and c) consumers
making full cash payments or a percentage co-payment under private health insurance
plans. The lawsuit claims that Defendants reported false and inflated AWPs for the
drugs covered in this Proposed Settlement. The Defendants deny any wrongdoing, and
the Proposed Settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing or an indication that
any law was violated
How Do I Know if I Am Included in the Proposed Settlement?
You are part of the Proposed Settlement if you made, or are obligated to make, a
full cash payment or a percentage co-payment:
- Under Medicare Part B for any of the covered drugs listed in the Class A and Class
B Drug Lists from January 1, 1991 through January 1, 2005;
- Through a private health insurance plan for covered drugs listed in the Class A
and Class B Drug Lists from January 1 1991, through March 1, 2008; or
- A spouse of a deceased class member who made such a co-payment or a legal representative
of a deceased class member’s estate may file a claim.
You are not a member of a Class if you made flat co-payments, if insurance paid
all of your co-payment, or if you were never obligated to make a co-payment at all
What Are the Terms of the Settlement?
The drug manufacturers have agreed to pay $125 million to settle the class action.
Approximately $21.8 million will be available to pay consumer claims.
When and Where Will the Court Decide on Whether To Grant Final Approval of the Proposed
Settlement?
The Court will hold a Hearing on April 27, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. to consider whether
it is fair, reasonable and adequate. At the Hearing, the Court will also consider
whether to approve the Proposed Settlement; the request for attorneys’ fees and
expenses; and any comments or objections. You are not required to attend, but may
do so at your own expense.
Who Represents Me?
The Court has appointed attorneys to represent the Classes. Class Counsel will request
that the Court award attorneys' fees not to exceed thirty-three and a third percent
(33.33%) of the Proposed Settlement Fund, plus reimbursement of expenses. You may
hire your own attorney, if you wish. However, you will be responsible for that attorney's
fees and expenses.
Summary of Your Rights and Choices
Remain in the Class:
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Stay in the Class.
If you received a yellow Pre-Notice with an attached postcard, you MUST return
the postcard to share in the Settlement Fund.
If you have sent in your postcard, you will receive a blue Notice with Claim Form.
The blue Claim Form will list the drugs and dates that Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (“CMS”) supplied and if this is correct, you do NOT need to send
in the blue Claim Form to share in the Settlement Fund. However, if the
information supplied by CMS is incorrect, please correct the Claim Form, sign it
and mail it to the Claims Administrator.
Due Date for Filing a Claim**: No due date has been determined.
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Exclude Yourself:
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Get out of the Class.
If you do not wish to be a member of the Settlement Class, you must sign a Request
For Exclusion form as outlined in the
Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement Question 7 .
Due Date for Request for Exclusion form**: No due date has
been determined.
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Object or Comment to the Proposed Settlement:
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Object or Comment without excluding yourself.
You can tell the Court if you do not like this Proposed Settlement or some part
of it if you do not exclude yourself. To object or comment, you must file or serve
a letter as outlined in the Notice
of Proposed Class Action Settlement Question 8 .
Due Date for Objections: No due date has been determined.
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