Congresswoman Scanlon, Senator Murphy Introduce Legislation to Provide Legal Protections for Health Care WhistleblowersThe Patient Safety and Whistleblower Protections Act would provide legal protections for health care whistleblowers who speak out publicly on patient safety concerns.
Washington,
April 15, 2026
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today introduced legislation to provide legal protections for health care whistleblowers who speak out publicly on patient safety concerns. The Patient Safety and Whistleblower Protections Act is a response to a growing crisis driven by private equity’s takeover of health care providers across the country. The bill’s Senate counterpart is led by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT). The Patient Safety and Whistleblower Protections Act would provide the same legal protections for healthcare whistleblowers from retaliation as federal employees and contractors. Currently, no protections exist for healthcare workers who sound the alarm on threats to patient safety at healthcare facilities. This legislation addresses a dangerous gap in legal protections at a time when the Trump administration continues to cut health care and private equity takeover of hospitals and nursing homes reveals negligence and misconduct. “Americans should be able to count on our hospitals and healthcare workers to prioritize patient care and safety,” said Rep. Scanlon. “At a time when the Trump administration continues to prioritize corporate profits over Americans’ health, healthcare workers should feel safe from employer retaliation when protecting patient care. I value Senator Murphy’s partnership in introducing the Patient Safety and Whistleblower Protections Act to provide legal protections to hospital workers who prioritize patient safety concerns.” “When I was investigating the conditions at three Connecticut hospitals bought by a private equity firm, I relied on the nurses, doctors, and support staff to share the truth about what was happening inside those facilities,” said Senator Murphy. “ As Donald Trump’s health care cuts push more hospitals and nursing homes into the arms of private equity, we need to make sure that workers feel safe coming forward and calling out the greed and corruption that is destroying their ability to care for patients.” Since taking office in 2018, Rep. Scanlon has led a continuing effort to sound the alarm on private equity’s takeover of medicine. The Patient Safety and Whistleblower Protections Act is part of a larger effort to address private equity in healthcare. In March 2026, Rep. Scanlon and Senator Murphy introduced the Take Back Our Hospitals Act, which would ban private equity ownership of hospitals and nursing homes The Patient Safety and Whistleblower Protections Act is endorsed by Community Catalyst and the American Academy of Emergency Medicine. Find the full bill text for the Patient Safety and Whistleblower Protections Act here. ### |
