Whistleblower News from the Inside -- May 21, 2015
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
Conagra hit with record criminal fine for salmonella outbreak — The food conglomerate agreed to plead guilty and pay $11 million to settle federal charges over its contaminated peanut butter that sickened more than 600 people in 2006 and 2007. CNBC
Medco will pay almost $8 million to settle False Claims Act charges — Medco Health Solutions Inc. has agreed to pay the government $7.9 million to settle allegations that it engaged in a kickback scheme with AstraZeneca in violation of the False Claims Act. Nasdaq
Government charge cards used by military in casinos and strip clubs — The Defense Department IG found roughly $1 million in expenditures by military and Defense Department employees last year. Washington Post
Senator Grassley calls for more oversight of Medicare Advantage plans — The Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman has asked Attorney General Loretta Lynch to look at Medicare Advantage health plans for fraud, saying billions of tax dollars are at risk. National Public Radio
Neurologist to pay $150,000 for violating False Claims Act — Dr. Sean Orr was charged with knowingly misdiagnosing patients with various neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, which caused federal health care programs to be billed for medically unnecessary services and drugs. DOJ
Whistleblower captures video of workers being sprayed with poison by helicopter — The video shows weed killer being sprayed on workers in Oregon’s timber country. The Oregonian