Grassley Works To Empower Whistleblowers, Protect Tax Dollars

Press Release

Senator Chuck Grassley has sent letters to 16 pharmaceutical companies about the False Claims Act, which offers whistleblower protections to private-sector employees who identify fraud against the taxpayers.

Grassley said, "The False Claims Act is a proven success in both identifying and deterring fraud and recovering fraudulently obtained taxpayer dollars. The more that can be done to create awareness of it, the more good it can do. My appeal to drug makers is based on the fact that they have a public responsibility to safeguard the tax dollars that pay for their products, and promoting a culture where those who speak up about possible fraud are rewarded rather than retaliated against is one way to fulfill that responsibility. In the last three years, Pharmaceutical companies have paid out over $3 billion in settlements under the False Claims Act for defrauding federal health care programs. There can never be too many taxpayer watchdogs, so I see this letter as an opportunity to foster a mindset that recognizes the value of whistleblowers and the duty these companies have to act honestly when seeking taxpayer dollars."

Recent False Claims Act settlements with pharmaceutical manufacturers include:

Astra Zeneca -- $520 million -- April 2010 Pfizer -- $2.3 billion ($1 billion under FCA, $1.3 billion criminal) -- September 2009 Eli Lily -- $1.4 billion -- January 2009 Bristol Myers Squibb -- $515 million -- 2007

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