Kaiser Permanente knew that fraudulent Medicare Advantage practices were widespread and unlawful, according to the government, and ignored numerous red flags and internal warnings that it was violating Medicare rules, including concerns raised by its own physicians about false claims and audits by its own compliance office.

The sprawling bill that offers protection to whistleblowers and citizens was approved 32-1 by the state Senate in May faces a vote in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday and must win final approval by Aug. 31 to reach Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk this year.