(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina has recovered $15.8 million from Abbott Laboratories as part of a national health care fraud settlement involving the drug Depakote. Attorney General Roy Cooper said the settlement comes after proving false Medicaid claims by Abbott.

“Making an unfair profit off of Medicaid wastes our tax dollars, drives up our health care costs, and keeps deserving patients from getting needed care,” said Cooper. “That’s why we’ve intensified our efforts to go after health care fraud.”

Cooper and the other states contend that from January 1998 through December 31, 2008, Abbott promoted Depakote for uses that were not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective. This resulted in false claims to Medicaid and other taxpayer-funded health care programs.

The settlement also resolves allegations that Abbott made false and misleading statements about the safety, efficacy, dosing and cost-effectiveness of Depakote for some unapproved uses; improperly marketed the product in nursing homes; and paid illegal compensation to health care professionals to get them to promote and/or prescribe Depakote.

Depakote is approved by the FDA to treat seizures and mania associated with bipolar disorder and to prevent migraines.