Findings of Whistleblower Retaliation by Health Resources and Services Administration Grantee

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigation (OI), Special Investigations Branch (SIB) conducted an investigation in response to allegations brought by the complainant, a former employee at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center (NorthPoint), also known as Hennepin County Department of Primary Care, a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grantee. The complainant alleged that while working at NorthPoint, the complainant’s supervisor and the responsible management official (RMO), the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), made a substantial change in the complainant’s work duties and placed the complainant on administrative leave as a result of the complainant’s protected disclosures. OIG found that during the relevant time period, the complainant made multiple protected disclosures regarding violations of Federal procurement laws covered by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the NorthPoint procurement policy, as well as a report of a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. OIG found that the RMO took personnel actions against the complainant in retaliation for these protected disclosures. The OIG investigative report was issued to the Secretary of HHS and included recommendations for whistleblower protection training for NorthPoint leadership and staff involved in the oversight of HRSA funding.