Feds in Wis. sue Ky.-based PharMerica Corp.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Federal prosecutors in Milwaukee have filed a lawsuit accusing a Kentucky-based pharmaceuticals services firm of illegally dispensing drugs such as OxyContin with little oversight, and falsely billing the government.

A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report says the lawsuit filed Friday against PharMerica Corp. was prompted by a whistleblower report from a Waukesha pharmacist in 2009.

Louisville, Ky.-based PharMerica provides pharmacy services for long-term care facilities across the nation.

The lawsuit says PharMerica filled orders for refills of addictive painkillers, even when the orders didn’t have a doctor’s signature. Prosecutors say PharMerica’s locations in Florida, California and Colorado followed similar procedures.

A message left with the agency that handles public relations for PharMerica was not immediately returned.