November 22, 2016

CleanSlate Centers, Inc. and Total Wellness Centers, LLC (d/b/a CleanSlate) agreed to pay $750,000 to resolve allegations that the two companies, which together operate opioid addiction treatment centers in Massachusetts and other states, improperly prescribed buprenorphine (Suboxone®) for opioid addiction treatment and improperly billed Medicare in violation of both the False Claims Act and the Controlled Substances Act.  DOJ (DMA)

November 21, 2016

Georgia 41 other states filed an amended antitrust lawsuit against the makers of Suboxone, a prescription drug used to treat opioid addiction, over allegations that the companies engaged in a scheme to block generic competitors and cause purchasers to pay artificially high prices. Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, now known as Indivior, is accused of conspiring with MonoSol Rx to switch Suboxone from a tablet version to a film (that dissolves in...

The Antitrust Week In Review

Here are some of the developments in antitrust news this past week that we found interesting and are following. China Vitamin C Price-Fixing Verdict Voided by U.S. Appeals Court.  The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Tuesday threw out a $147.8 million price-fixing verdict against two Chinese companies that were accused of conspiring to raise prices and lower supply of vitamin C sold to U.S. purchasers. ...

September 22, 2016

New York announced that, together with the Attorneys General of 34 other states and the District of Columbia, his office has filed a lawsuit against Indivior, the manufacturer of the branded drug Suboxone, and MonoSolRX, the company that licensed its patented sublingual film technology to Indivior. Suboxone is used to treat patients addicted to heroin and other drugs, including painkillers. The lawsuit alleges that Indivior (which was spun off from...

Whistleblower News From The Inside — September 22, 2016

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team Healthcare company to pay $3 million for violating corporate integrity agreement—Kindred Healthcare is being penalized for violating a 2012 corporate integrity agreement stemming from an FCA settlement.  Kindred’s auditors discovered that the company didn’t implement billing policies required in that agreement; this is the largest such penalty issued to date. Modern Healthcare Utah skincare company settles FCPA charges for $766 thousand—Nu Skin settled violations...

May 12, 2016

Kentucky anesthesiologist Jaime Guerrero was sentenced to 100 months in prison for his role in the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, including the prescription opioid hydrocodone without a legitimate medical purpose.  Guerrero also agreed to pay $827,000 in victim restitution to nine health care benefit programs.  He also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of unlawful distribution or dispensing of controlled substances, health care fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.  DOJ

March 3, 2016

New York announced an agreement with Endo Health Solutions Inc. and Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Endo”), which make and sell the long-acting opioid, Opana ER. The agreement requires Endo to cease all misrepresentations regarding the properties of Opana ER, to describe accurately the risk of addiction to Opana ER, and to summarize studies regarding Opana ER on its website. Endo must also create a program that will prevent its sales staff...

Whistleblower News From The Inside — July 15, 2015

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team Whistleblower’s phone call halts child-endangerment on set of Divergent movie sequel.  After a whistleblower’s frantic calls, union representatives stepped in to halt the shooting of chaotic scenes with child actors, some as young as four, scrambling through a gauntlet of 100+ untrained adult extras swinging metal clubs, axes and machetes.  Deadline. Nine defendants charged in scam involving complex, international stock manipulation and money laundering. ...

Whistleblower News From The Inside - March 27, 2015

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team Kansas City stadium whistleblower fired after exposing food safety concerns --  The food safety manager in charge of Kansas City’s Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums was fired last week, four months after he alerted city officials and media to several health violations, including mold in several of the ice machines, a rampant roach problem, and more.  Washington Post VA official vows action on any misconduct...

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...