In the largest healthcare fraud takedown thus far, more than 100 physicians, nurses and other defendants from nine cities were charged today for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving more than $225 million in false billing, according to a news release from the Department of Justice.
The 111 defendants are accused of various healthcare fraud-related crimes, including conspiracy to defraud Medicare, false claims, kickbacks, money laundering and aggravated identity theft. The alleged fraud schemes involved various medical treatments and services, including home healthcare, physician and occupational therapy, nerve conduction tests and durable medical equipment.
Here are some of the cities and defendants involved in the federal takedown by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force:
• Miami: 32 defendants, including two physicians and eight nurses, were charged for their participation in various fraud schemes involving a total of $55 million in false billings for home healthcare, durable medical equipment and prescription drugs.
• Brooklyn, N.Y.: 10 individuals, including three physicians and one physical therapist, were charged with fraud schemes involving $90 million in false billings for physical therapy, proctology services and nerve conduction tests.
• Detroit: 21 defendants, including three physicians, where charged for schemes to defraud Medicare of more than $23 million.
Also today, the DOJ and HHS announced the expansion of Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations to two additional cities – Dallas and Chicago. The joint DOJ-HHS force is a multi-agency team of federal, state and local investigators designed to combat Medicare fraud through the use of Medicare data analysis techniques and an increased focus on community policing.
Read the DOJ release on the largest healthcare fraud takedown so far.
Read more about Medicare fraud:
– 20 People Indicted for $200M in Medicare Fraud, Kickbacks at Miami Mental Health Center
– Criminals Exploiting Medicare Prescription Drug Program With Phony Physician IDs
– Oklahoma Man Charged for Billing Medicare Nearly $5M for Unprescribed Prosthetics
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