Undercover: How I Went from Company Man to FBI Spy - and Exposed the Worst Healthcare Fraud in U.S. History

by John W. Schilling

When John Schilling, an unassuming mid-level accountant, went to work for the Columbia Hospital Corporation, he never expected to become the catalyst for the series of whistleblower cases that ripped through the healthcare industry in the late 1990s. But when he unwittingly discovered that the company was siphoning billions of dollars away from Medicare and stealing from American taxpayers, he was faced with a choice: Speak up for what he believed to be right, or remain silent. Undercover tells the story of Schillings harrowing journey from ordinary citizen to federal informant. The book recounts how Schilling allied himself with the FBI and the Justice Department andunable to confide in friends or familyjourneyed into an undercover world in which he carried a wire and mapped out offices for secret government raids. Suspenseful and provocative, Undercover chronicles Schillings nine-year ordeal that eventually led to the resignation of high-level executives and forced Columbia to return $1.7 billion dollars to the federal government. A compelling account of one mans decision to risk everything for the greater good, this book reveals the personal side of a thankless role that resulted, ultimately, in justice.

Genres: True Crime

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Lisa Topp]

This author is a native of Menomonee Falls, WI, where we live, and an alumnus of my girls' Catholic School. I'll be meeting him next week when he comes to the school to do a book presentation and signing event. I'm in on the planning and am very excited!

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are places in this book where you almost feel like you should have a law or accounting degree. But if you persevere, it is an interesting story every US taxpayer should know. And if you are wondering why Medicare is almost bankrupt, you should REALLY read it.

[Jesse · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm an accountant, I understand the technicalities in the book. But as a read it was very, terribly awfully boring.

[Kendra Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a reading assignment for a compliance course in my MHA program. If you're looking for in-depth analysis and recounting of a qui tam lawsuit in healthcare, this is the book for you. Schilling, the whistleblower, not only details the process from start to finish, he also recounts the personal stresses and impacts the process had on him. The first half of the book is a nail biter, and I was speed reading to find out what happened. The second half of the book dragged on (rightfully so since the lawsuit dragged on for years) and the details became a little exhausting, but I would rather have more information than not enough. Worth a read if you find the subject enticing!

[Jim Bouchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be a movie! I received this copy as a demo from a printing service. I almost tossed it in my "give to the library sale" pile when I picked it up and started to read...

...I was very pleasantly surprised!

This reads like an action novel and tells an in-depth story of personal courage and restores your belief in contemporary ethics.

[Lori]

Couldn't get into it. From what little I read it's based on Medicare fraud.

[Matt Coffron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good inside look at what a whistleblower really goes through.

[Krenzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good resource for those involved in the False Claims area/healthcare fraud.

[Debbie Ptak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undercover Book

Excellent written book, informative, interesting and a great learning tool. This book kept you interested to keep reading until you finished.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and easy read on the results of being a whistle blower in what was then the worst healthcare fraud in history.