At a press conference in Washington, D.C. today, FBI Assistant Director Ron Hosko joined Attorney General Eric Holder, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and other officials in announcing charges against 89 individuals—including doctors, nurses, and other licensed medial professionals—for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $223 million in false billing.
This coordinated operation was the multi-agency Medicare Fraud Strike Force’s sixth national takedown—thus far, nearly 600 individuals have been charged in connection with health care fraud schemes involving almost $2 billion in false claims in these national takedowns alone. Regionally, Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in nine locations have resulted in charges against more than 1,500 people who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $5 billion.
The defendants charged today are accused of various health care fraud-related crimes, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, violations of the anti-kickback statutes, and money laundering. The charges are based on a variety of alleged fraud schemes involving various medical treatments and services, primarily home health care, but also mental health services, psychotherapy, physical and occupational therapy, durable medical equipment, and ambulance services.
“We all feel the effects of health care fraud,” said FBI Assistant Director Hosko. “It leads to higher health care costs and makes it harder for seniors and those who are ill to get the care they need. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to preventing and prosecuting health care fraud at all levels.”
FBI Press Release
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