EP476: Talking Whistleblowing and the Pharma Rebates Whistleblower Case With an Actual Whistleblower, With Ann Lewandowski

In this episode, host Stacey Richter speaks with Ann Lewandowski about whistleblowing in the healthcare industry, focusing on a significant case involving a whistleblower at an employee benefit consultant (EBC) firm. This EBC allegedly pocketed their clients' pharma rebates, violating the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The discussion highlights the nuances of being a whistleblower, the ethical dilemmas faced, compliance challenges, and the significant financial implications for companies and individuals involved in illegal activities. Ann Lewandowski provides insights into documenting and protecting oneself legally and discusses the broader context of trust and transparency in the healthcare sector. Click through to the show notes below to access all of the mentioned links and prior episodes mentioned. === LINKS === 🔗  Show Notes with all mentioned links:   https://relentlesshealthvalue.com/episodes ✉️  Enjoy this podcast? Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter: https://relentlesshealthvalue.com/join-the-relentless-tribe 🫙  Support the podcast with a small donation to the Tip Jar: https://relentlesshealthvalue.com/join-the-relentless-tribe 🎤  Listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/feed/id892082003?ls=1 🎤  Listen on Spotify   https://open.spotify.com/show/6UjgzI7bScDrWvZEk2f46b 📺  Subscribe to our YouTube channel   https://www.youtube.com/@RelentlessHealthValue === CONNECT WITH THE RHV TEAM === ✭ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/relentless-health-value/ ✭ Threads https://www.threads.net/@relentlesshealthvalue/ ✭ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/relentleshealth.bsky.social ✭ X https://twitter.com/relentleshealth/ 08:10 What does it mean to be a whistleblower? 09:05 What’s happening in the current whistleblower case about pharma rebates? 14:24 What are the disclosure requirements, and how does this affect contracts in healthcare? 15:05 EP379 with AJ Loiacono. 15:11 The 5500 form. 15:36 EP397 with Paul Holmes. 16:46 Why having a “defensive health plan” is important. 17:31 Matt Ohrt’s post about healthcare’s soul. 17:42 Michelle Bernabe’s post about how healthcare has lost its heart. 18:15 Why “trust and verify” is important when building contracts and relationships in healthcare. 18:42 Quote by W. Edwards Deming. 21:35 How has this case moved from state to federal court? 23:30 Whistleblower case on generic drug collusion. 24:01 What is a qui tam lawsuit? 28:08 What is an Upjohn warning and the issue of corporate Miranda rights? 30:01 What is Ann’s advice to employees who might be whistleblowers? 31:41 EP438 with John Lee, MD. 33:31 What are some red flags that employees should look for to understand what kind of company they work for?