Wal-Mart Pays $1.65M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Improper Medi Cal Billings

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has paid $1.65 million to resolve allegations that it violated the federal False Claims Act when it knowingly submitted claims for reimbursement to California’s Medi‑Cal program that were not supported by applicable diagnosis and documentation requirements, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

“These Medi-Cal regulations are essential to protect both patients and limited heath care funding,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “My office will continue to hold pharmacies accountable when they fail to comply with regulations like these.” read more »

Lance Armstrong co-defendants reach $158K settlement in federal case

Lance Armstrong’s longtime agent and business partner have agreed to pay $158,000 to get out of a $100 million federal lawsuit scheduled to go to trial against Armstrong in November.

The agreement was part of a deal with former cyclist Floyd Landis, who sued them and Armstrong on behalf of the United States government in 2010. Their dismissal clears the deck for Landis and the federal government to go after Armstrong alone in the upcoming trial in Washington, D.C.

Under the False Claims Act, Armstrong could be on the hook for triple the $32.3 million paid by the Postal Service to sponsor his team from 2000 to 2004 — nearly $100 million. read more »

Teamsters urge McKesson shareholders to vote against CEO pay

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters urged McKesson Corp's shareholders to vote against the company's executive pay practices and called for it to appoint an independent chairman as the union criticized the drug distributor for its role in the U.S. opioid drug epidemic.

McKesson Chief Executive John Hammergren was paid more than $20 million for the year ended March 31, despite the company's record $150 million settlement paid to resolve a U.S. investigation into whether it failed to report suspicious orders of addictive painkillers.

"Recent pay decisions ... send completely the wrong message to shareholders, regulators, lawmakers and the public about executive accountability," the Teamsters wrote in a letter to other shareholders filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday.

The union did not disclose how many McKesson shares it owns, but said it had substantial holdings in the company.

It asked shareholders to vote against a proposal to approve executive compensation and for a proposal asking for an independent chairman. The "say-on-pay" proposal is an advisory, non-binding vote. read more »

G20 Agree To Make Companies Liable For Graft And Not Only Individuals

The G20 leaders said they remain committed to fighting corruption, including through practical international cooperation and technical assistance, and will continue to fully implement the G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2017-18.

Adopting a strong resolution to fight corruption, India and other G20 members have committed to make their public administrations more resilient against the menace, while ensuring that companies too are held liable in addition to individual perpetrators of this crime.

The declaration assumes significance as an OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, adopted nearly a decade ago, has been actively enforced so far only by a few countries and the prosecution rate is dismal even in the majority of the countries that have ratified it. read more »