Whistleblower News from the Inside - May 23, 2014

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team

Senators propose the Stop Scams Act of 2014  —  Citing estimates that Medicare fraudsters are costing taxpayers $60-90B a year, a bi-partisan group of senators is proposing legislation that will make it easier for insurers and medical providers to share information that more quickly identifies scammers.  Sacramento Bee

California counties sue pharmas over painkiller abuse — They say the drug makers violated state laws against false advertising and unfair competition through “a common, sophisticated, and deeply deceptive marketing campaign that…reverse[d] the popular and medical understanding of opioids” as dangerous and highly addictive.  Bloomberg Business Week

VA whistleblower accuses officials of covering up crimes at Miami hospital — The VA police officer says administrators at the hospital are hiding evidence of physical abuse of patients and drug dealing in what is the latest in a string of allegations against the VA hospital system.  Fox News

Eight charged in CA National Guard scam — The current and former members of the California National Guard are charged with collecting between $16,000 and $95,000 each in bonuses by falsely claiming to have referred eligible recruits to enlistment offices.  Stars and Stripes

Utah awards its first whistleblower bounty under new state law — The state has awarded a financial advisor $15,000 for his tip that led to an alleged securities fraudster ripping off a widow.  The Salt Lake Tribune