We rely on nurses and healthcare workers to keep patients safe; healthcare whistleblower protection is imperative when they report dangerous staffing levels or hospital conditions. Starting this year, California will chargeimpose higher penalties toon health facilities that discriminate or retaliate against whistleblowers who report issues that affect patient care, services or hospital conditions. Existing state law forbids health facilities from discriminating or retaliating against … [Read more...]
Government Contract Fraud: Three Reasons Competitors Make Great Whistleblowers
When most people think of whistleblowers who expose government contract fraud, they probably picture “insiders” at companies that cheat the government. Indeed, the federal False Claims Act, a key whistleblower law, requires that information or evidence of fraud, waste or abuse come from an “original source.” But there’s no requirement that the original source be someone inside the company. Outsiders with the right information can blow the whistle, too. Indeed, in some situations, the best … [Read more...]
Healthcare Fraud Whistleblowers: Attorney General Nominee Affirms Commitment to Fighting Fraud
In confirmation hearings this week, the Trump administration's nominee for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, vowed this week that he would use his position as America's "top cop" to continue to fight fraud against taxpayers. "[T]his government must improve its ability to protect the United States Treasury from waste, fraud, and abuse," Sessions told the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday. "We cannot afford to lose a single dollar to corruption and you can be sure that if I am confirmed, I will … [Read more...]
Nursing Home Fraud: How Whistleblowers Stop It With the False Claims Act
Healthcare fraud puts patients’ lives at risk and costs billions of dollars every year, and nursing home fraud is among its most damaging forms. Nursing homes, which house vulnerable patients away from loved ones and the outside world, are especially fertile breeding grounds for healthcare fraud schemes. While government agencies have stepped up their enforcement efforts, nursing home workers who witness fraud are in the best position to put it to a stop—and thanks to federal and state … [Read more...]
Whistleblower Social Media Risks: The Dangers of Posting Before You File
Whistleblower social media use carries real risks. Being a whistleblower can be a lonely pursuit. You uncover wrongdoing by your employer. You report what you found to your supervisor. He tells you to ignore it and go back to doing your job. But you can’t. You’ve discovered that your employer has defrauded the U.S. government out of millions of dollars. You know that ignoring it isn’t the right thing to do. You’re just not sure what your next step should be. You talk to your spouse. You ask … [Read more...]