The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday announced federal and local criminal charges targeting 78 defendants across 16 states as part of a law enforcement action involving $2.5 billion in alleged health care fraud schemes targeting elderly and disabled people, HIV patients, and even pregnant women.
The cases range from allegations of falsely billing the federal Medicare insurance program for elderly and disabled Americans and paying illegal kickbacks, to the illicit diversion of expensive prescription medications and the improper dispensing of highly addictive opioid pain killers.
Among those facing charges are 24 doctors, nurses, and other licensed medical professionals, as well as health care executives including the current and former CEOs of a durable medical equipment online platform accused of falsely billing $1.9 billion in fraudulent claims.
Of the $2.5 billion in alleged fraudulent claims to Medicare, state Medicaid programs that serve the poor, and supplemental Medicare insurance programs offered by private insurers, about $1.1 billion was actually paid out to the fraudsters, officials said.
Source: US Announces Charges in $2.5B Health Care Fraud Takedown / Newsmax