Whistleblower News From The Inside -- January 18, 2017

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team

BlackRock settles SEC charges over whistleblower protection violations – Asset Manager BlackRock, Inc. agreed to pay a $340k penalty to settle the SEC’s accusations that it stifled participation in the agency’s whistleblower program by inserting whistleblower reward waivers in employment separation agreements.  The settlement signals the SEC’s continued focus on deterring companies from implementing confidentiality agreements or award waivers that keep whistleblowers from coming forward to report fraud.  Reuters

McKesson in record $150M U.S. settlement over suspicious drug orders – Pharmaceutical distributor McKesson Corp. will pay $150M in connection with a DOJ investigation into its alleged failure to report suspicious painkiller orders. The settlement terms also subject McKesson to enhanced compliance obligations, require it to appoint an independent monitor, and to suspend controlled substances sales from distribution centers in several states on a staggered basis.  Reuters

MB2 Dental Solutions settles Medicaid fraud charges for $8.45M – MB2 Dental Solutions, and several affiliated entities, settled allegations it falsely billed Medicaid for pediatric dental services that were not performed, involved false identifications, or were tainted by illegal kickbacks. The $8.45M recovery will be split among the United States, the state of Texas, and the whistleblowers who alerted the government to the alleged fraud.  Texas Insider