Schering-Plough agreed to pay over $255 million to settle civil False Claims Act charges related to improperly marketing four of its products for unapproved off-label uses, overcharging federal and state health care programs, and paying physicians kickbacks for prescribing its products. Schering-Plough subsidiary Schering Sales Corp. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide false statements in the same matter and paid a $180 million criminal fine. The unit was also permanently barred from participating in all federal health care programs. (See related Schering-Plough instance, “Off-Label Marketing, Overcharging and Kickbacks (Criminal)”.)