Healthcare Whistleblower Rewards
Dedicated healthcare workers enter the profession with a strong desire to help others. So, if you work in a healthcare setting and discover someone committing an illegal act it is very upsetting and confusing. What steps should you take in this situation? If you suspect one or more of your fellow employees is committing fraud, putting patients’ lives at risk or participating in financial misconduct, contact an experienced, healthcare whistleblower attorney immediately.
Keep quiet about your suspicions unless a patient’s life is at risk. Do not discuss the situation with other employees, friends and family members. In other words, wait until your attorney provides solid legal advice.
Healthcare Whistleblower Process
Healthcare whistleblower cases in programs like Medicare/Medicaid will involve the federal government. Consequently, a highly experienced attorney that has worked in federal court becomes a necessity. Each case is different. However, the following steps may be recommended by your attorney:
- Document evidence as thoroughly as possible without breaking any workplace regulations. Preserve emails, records, or any other ocular/auditory evidence.
- Hire an experienced whistleblower attorney. Your attorney knows how to properly file this type of case. Do not report internally first! This may affect your reward later.
- Decide on which way to proceed with your attorney’s guidance. Often these cases are filed in federal court and sealed.
- Have your attorney explain your protections under the law. There are whistleblower protection laws to prevent firing and other repercussions.
Healthcare Whistleblower Financial Rewards
Federal and state governments appreciate whistleblowers and monetary rewards reflect that appreciation. If your case goes to court, you may be entitled to a financial recovery. In many cases a healthcare whistleblower may receive between 15-30% of the final settlement when the government is part of the case. Often, a whistleblower may receive 30% if the government is not involved.
Of course, this assumes you were not a part of fraud or any illegal activity. Also, if you are part of a group bringing the whistleblower action, then the money must be divided among the members.
Healthcare Whistleblower Settlements
The largest individual award received by a healthcare whistleblower was $266.4 million to Michael Bawduniak in 2022. He exposed illegal kickbacks to doctors from BIOGEN. The pharmaceutical company paid doctors to prescribe the drug, Tecfidera, to patients with multiple sclerosis. The doctors violated anti-kickback laws and submitted false claims to Medicare.
Biogen had to pay the U.S. government $900 million. Since Bawduniak’s attorney filed the case under the False Claims Act, he received a portion of the funds from the federal recovery and the state.
Other significant healthcare whistleblower rewards include:
- GlaxoSmithKline $3 billion for healthcare fraud
- Pfizer $2.3 billion another healthcare fraud case
- Johnson and Johnson 2.2 billion
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Fraud Case $556 million (two former employees split $95 million)
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Settlement $515 million (whistleblowers received $50 million)
- Apex Medical $309 million
- Ascension Michigan $2.8 million
- Covenant Healthcare System $69 million
- Molina Healthcare of Texas $40 million
According to the Department of Justice, 458 whistleblower healthcare lawsuits were filed in 2025. Healthcare whistleblowers received $261 million in 2024. Most cases involved paying kickbacks, billing for unnecessary services, or providing substandard care to Medicare or Medicaid patients. So, if you suspect healthcare fraud or substandard care in any Medicare/Medicaid environment contact an experienced healthcare whistleblower attorney.
