WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced criminal charges against 455 people across 45 states accused of participating in health care fraud schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in false claims.
"This is just the beginning," Acting U.S. District Attorney Todd Blanche said during a news conference on Tuesday.
"This announcement marks the greatest combined federal and state effort in combating healthcare fraud in history," Blanche added.
"Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and the vice president, and all those folks standing behind me and next to me, we are more united than ever before."
The cases, which were part of the department's annual National Health Care Fraud Takedown, targeted a wide range of alleged schemes involving Medicare, Medicaid, and other government-funded health care programs, according to the DOJ.
Federal authorities alleged the defendants participated in fraud operations that included false billing, kickback arrangements, unnecessary medical services, and other schemes designed to improperly obtain taxpayer-funded health care dollars.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy described it as the second largest amount ever charged in a single healthcare fraud operation.
"Every fraudulent dollar diverted into a criminal scheme is a dollar unavailable for patient care, for medical innovation, or for services for vulnerable Americans," Kennedy said.
Officials said health care fraud remains one...
Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has dismissed a social media impersonation after fraudsters used her identity to spread false claims about her alleged exclusion from Nigeria’s squad for th...