Cardinal Health pays $34M settlement

Cardinal Health has agreed to pay $34 million to a group of seven U.S. attorney's offices to settle charges that it failed to report suspicious orders made by Internet pharmacies for hydrocodone, which eventually were diverted for illegal use. The Dublin, OH-based company will pay $16 million to the Middle District of Florida, $8 million to the Southern District of Texas, $3.5 million to the Western District of Washington, $3 million to the District of New Jersey, $1.5 million to Northern District of Georgia, $1 million to the Central District of California and $1 million to the District of Colorado. Under the terms of the settlement, the medical products company will be allowed to re-launch distribution from three of its drug distribution centers, which were closed late last year.

To learn more about the investigation:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece