Purpose: The purpose of this article is to explore some of the factors involved when a nurse practitioner (NP) is confronted with a healthcare fraud situation. Ethical concepts and decision-making strategies are provided, as well as practical legal considerations.
Data sources: Government Internet Web sites; healthcare management, ethics, and nursing journals.
Conclusions: There are many forms of healthcare fraud. Healthcare fraud saps financial resources from the healthcare system and from individuals. The decision to blow the whistle on a colleague or organization is not an easy one and has potential for great discomfort. There are ethical decision-making strategies and practical considerations for the process of whistle-blowing should it become necessary.
Implications for practice: NPs may be confronted daily with billing and reimbursement issues. Being prepared to recognize healthcare fraud and knowing the ramifications of whistle-blowing are important tools to have in one's practice repertoire.