Exposing the Great American Healthcare Heist: Whistleblowing, Reform, and $100M in Fraud with Chris Deacon

In this powerful episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Chris Deacon—former New Jersey Treasury official, whistleblower, and author of The Great American Healthcare Heist. Chris shares how she uncovered widespread fraud and manipulation in one of the country’s largest public health plans, why she walked away from her role, and the moral, personal, and professional cost of exposing the truth. From pharmacy benefit games to $100M settlements, this is a rare, behind-the-scenes look into how the system really works—and what it takes to change it. Main Talking PointsChris’s background: from bankruptcy attorney to managing an 820,000-member state health planThe questions that exposed flaws: “Discount off what?” and “Don’t we want smart disruption?” Her discovery: being billed $2.1M for a $675K procedure—and the rigged system behind itHow vendors manipulated EOBs and plan billing against contract termsFiling the whistleblower case that led to a $100M+ recovery for New JerseyWhy she left government—and the chilling threats she faced afterwardThe broader problem with PBMs, rebates, and healthcare middlemenHer call to action for fiduciaries and employers to stop accepting “that’s just how it’s done”Her book, The Great American Healthcare Heist, and what it revealsWhat’s next: unsealing the rest of the case and continuing the fight for transparency