Undercover

April 1, 2008
Schilling (JWS Group), a former accountant with Columbia Hospital Corporation/HCA, here writes about his experience as a whistleblower in an immense Medicare fraud case. While the criminal convictions of company participants were reversed on appeal, Schilling's efforts resulted in $1.7 billion being returned to the federal government in a settlement. Schilling writes chronologically, ranging from his own CPA certification to his work with Columbia/HCA and his discovery of internal fraud. After filing his secret action under the federal False Claims Act, he left the company, then returned in an undercover capacity, monitored by the FBI. The author recounts the fear, stress on his family, and doubts that plagued him while he dealt with his company superiors, federal agents, prosecutors, and his private attorneys. The best parts of the book are Schilling's tart comments on the eventual civil settlement of the claims and the "Postscript: 10 years later," in which another writer interviews the participants on both sides and discusses the case and Schilling's role. While not as extensive as Henry Scammell's "Giantkillers: The Team and the Law That Help Whistle-Blowers Recover America's Stolen Billions", Schilling's memoir is a worthwhile addition to this subject area in general collections.Harry Charles, Attorney at Law, St. Louis, MO

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