NERBASKA -- Attorney General Mike Hilgers announced Tuesday, Nebraska has joined the United States, 37 other states, and Puerto Rico to settle kickback allegations against Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd., a subsidiary of Pfizer, Inc.

Hilgers said that Biohaven will pay over $59 million to resolve claims of submitting false claims to Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs.

The allegations stem from Biohaven’s practice of offering kickbacks to healthcare providers, which included cash, extravagant meals, and honoraria, to encourage the prescription of its migraine treatment, Nurtec ODT. As part of the settlement, Nebraska will receive $62,688.71 in restitution and recoveries.

The investigation revealed that Biohaven paid healthcare providers tens of thousands of dollars to present at speaker programs aimed at promoting Nurtec, often inviting individuals without any educational need to attend. Many providers received significant compensation for attending multiple programs on the same topic, alongside lavish meals and drinks, without gaining any real educational benefit.

The case was initiated by a whistleblower, a former Biohaven employee, and was investigated by the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the United States Attorney’s Office in New York.