The Justice Department has charged 455 defendants, including 90 physicians, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for allegedly participating in healthcare fraud and opioid abuse schemes.
The charges are part of the department’s 2026 National Healthcare Fraud Takedown, which is addressing over $6.5 billion in alleged false claims and patient harm and deaths, according to a June 23 department news release. The action targeted what the department called “the worst actors” in healthcare fraud and has seized over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry and assets. Here is what to know.
1. To date, the action involves cases in 45 states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the highest number in the department’s history.
2. International entities also cooperated in the action to apprehend and return suspects to the U.S., including a defendant in Kyrenia, two in Estonia and one in the Philippines.
3. In conjunction with the takedown, CMS has suspended 1,079 providers and revoked billing privileges from 1,403 providers.
4. There have been 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions and 25 actions by HHS’ Office of Inspector General seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to fraudulent providers.
5. Civil charges have been brought against 13 defendings for $14.8 million in healthcare fraud schemes and 44 defendants have settled for a total of $23 million.
6. In 928 administrative cases, the Drug Enforcement Administration is seeking to revoke the authority of providers to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances.
Find more details about the charges and cases here.
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