A coordinated takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in seven cities resulted in fraud charges against 107 people announced the Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday.
The charged individuals, including doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, are collectively accused of false billing to the tune of about $452 million. A statement from the DOJ said that the Medicare Fraud Strike force operations announced Wednesday "involved the highest amount of false Medicare billings in a single takedown in Strike Force history."
"As charged in the indictments, these fraud schemes were committed by people up and down the chain of healthcare providers," said Assistant Attorney General Breuer in a statement released Wednesday following a press conference held in Washington, D.C. "Today's operations mark the fourth in a series of historic Medicare fraud takedowns over the past two years. These indictments remind us that Medicare is an attractive target for criminals. But it should also remind those criminals that they risk prosecution and prison time every time they submit a false claim."
Wednesday's indictments included:
• Miami: 59 were charged for alleged fraud schemes totaling $137 million related to home healthcare, mental health services, occupational and physical therapy, durable medical equipment and HIV infusion.
• Baton Rouge, La.: Seven were charged for allegedly submitting false claims totaling $225 for community mental health center services.
• Houston: Nine were charged for alleged false billings totaling $16.4 million for home healthcare and ambulance services.
• Los Angeles: Eight were charged for alleged fraudulent billing of about $14 million.
• Detroit: 22 were charged for allegedly submitting false claims totaling $58 million for services such as psychotherapy and infusion therapy.
Click here to view court documents related to the indictments.
Follow HFN managing editor Stephanie Bouchard on Twitter @SBouchardHFN.