July 29, 2022.  National Whistleblower Appreciation Day is July 30th, an observance which began in 2013, when Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced a resolution in the Senate to recognize whistleblowers at the end of July.  This date was chosen as the Continental Congress enacted the first whistleblower protection law on July 30, 1777, enshrining legal protections for anyone reporting “misconduct, frauds, or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states,” in response to a military misconduct incident.

We would like to appreciate some whistleblowers who have recently made amazing strides in helping the government recover misspent taxpayer dollars.

Pharmacy Fraud

Two pharmacists received 20 percent of a $5.79 million False Claims Act Settlement against Amazon subsidiary PillPack, LLC for alleged fraudulent submission of insulin to the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Securities Fraud

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently awarded a whistleblower more than $17 million for providing “detailed information and documents throughout the investigation.”

Healthcare Fraud

For blowing the whistle on Biotronik Inc.’s alleged kickback scheme to pay physicians to recommend the medical device manufacturer’s implantable cardiac devices over others, two relators will receive $2.1 million of a $12.95 million settlement.

Government Contracts Fraud

A whistleblower reported defense contractor Kellogg Brown & Root Services Inc. (KBR) for bid-rigging, charging the government inflated prices for services, and receiving kickbacks from subcontractors in exchange for favorable treatment.  The contractor paid the United States $13.7 million to resolve these allegations.

This has certainly been a “hot fraud summer” in for healthcare and contracting settlements, in which whistleblowers may have been able to report fraudulent misconduct sooner and been rewarded for speaking up.  In qui tam cases, whistleblowers are entitled to receive 15-25% of the government’s recovery.