He blew the whistle...It wasn't a shooting incident that forced Pervez into action; it was a hospital reneging on a promise

It wasn't the smoking muzzle of a submachine gun or a professional disagreement that turned Najmuddin Pervez into a whistle-blower. It was a hospital messing with his health benefits.

How Bill-Scam Sleuth Made His Hosp Pay In 2001, [Pervez] filed a whistleblower lawsuit, which was sealed in Manhattan federal court. The U.S. Attorney's Office, aided by Pervez and his lawyers, investigated. Last Nov. 30, the feds filed a civil complaint and settled with Beth Israel.

Then Beth Israel stopped paying his medical bills. That's when Pervez launched his 51/2 years of detective work.

OLD WOUNDS:Beth Israel whistleblower Najuddin Pervez was shot in '82 by co-worker [Barry Simowitz] (above), who went on a rampage armed with an Uzi and pistols. (Julie Stapen; Michael Leone; Robert Karp)

$73 million ... and counting?Last week's $73 million whistle-blower settlement with New York City's Beth Israel Medical Center was one of the largest single hospital cost-reporting fraud cases. But it won't affect the hospital's current renovation and development plans, said a spokesman for the 881-bed hospital.

The settlement came amid what one expert believes is an increase in hospital billing fraud.

Press release by the US Attorney, Southern District, New YorkUS Attorney Facsimile Communication Copy

Beth Israel Settles Medicare ReviewE-mail by the CEO of Beth Israel’s parent company Continuum Health Partners, Inc.