Justice Dept. to target opioid manufacturers, distributors in new push to curb deadly epidemic

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Tuesday creation of a new task force focused specifically on targeting opioid manufacturers and distributors, and holding them accountable for unlawful practices.

The Justice Department also filed a statement of interest in a case involving hundreds of lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. Sessions said the Justice Department will argue that the federal government has borne substantial costs from the opioid epidemic and it seeks reimbursement. The case includes numerous cities, municipalities and medical institutions. read more »

U.S. Probes MiMedx's Federal Contracts, Accounting

Biotech firm MiMedx Group, which jolted investors last week by delaying its year-end earnings announcement, is under U.S. Justice Department scrutiny related to a pair of business practices, according to people familiar with the matter.

Federal authorities are investigating whether the Marietta, Georgia-based company overcharged the government for its tissue-repair products, said a person with knowledge of the matter. The Justice Department is also looking into MiMedx’s distribution practices -- including whether it inappropriately booked sales of products that hadn’t been ordered, a practice known as channel stuffing -- according to several others familiar with that probe. read more »

How Defective Guns Became the Only Product That Can’t Be Recalled

Taurus sold almost a million handguns that can potentially fire without anyone pulling the trigger. The government won’t fix the problem. The NRA is silent.

The simple answer is that no government entity has the power to police defective firearms or ammunition in America—or even force gunmakers to warn consumers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission can order the recall and repair of thousands of things, from toasters to teddy bears. If a defective car needs fixing, the U.S. Department of Transportation can make it happen. The Food and Drug Administration deals with food, drugs, and cosmetics. Only one product is beyond the government’s reach when it comes to defects and safety: firearms. Not even the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can get defective guns off the market. If a gunmaker chooses to ignore a safety concern, there’s no one to stop it. read more »

Hospital Pays $1.6 Million To Settle Medicaid and Medicare Violations

Vermont's U.S. Attorney says Brattleboro Memorial Hospital allegedly submitted bills to Medicare and Medicaid without the proper documentation.

BMH paid more than $1.6 million to resolve the allegations that the hospital violated the federal False Claims Act and the Vermont False Claims Act.

U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan says that between January 2012 and September 2014 Brattleboro Memorial knowingly submitted a number of outpatient laboratory claims that lacked proper documentation. read more »