WHAT LIMITATIONS ARE THERE ON WHISTLE BLOWERS?
If there has been prior disclosure of the wrongdoing, through a suit, a government investigation, etc., private citizens cannot file false claims act suits unless they are one of the “original sources” of the information. The whistleblower laws are intended to encourage people who would not normally come forward with evidence of fraud. In many cases employees of the federal government whose job it is to detect and report fraud cannot bring false claims suits. WHAT IF YOUR EMPLOYER IS INVOLVED IN THE FRAUD? “I feel like the getaway driver at a bank robbery.” Anonymous R.N. Situations where your own agency is involved in fraud are the most complicated and demanding a health care or insurance professional may ever encounter. Balancing ethics, honesty, and concerns about economic security is intellectually and psychologically demanding. Here is one factor to consider: • Should You Report the Fraud to Your Superiors? This is one of the trickiest questions that confronts an honest employee.
