WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against 455 people across 45 states accused of participating in "healthcare 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."
Blanche was joined by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He 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.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, who is the administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the "numbers tell the story." He said in the first quarter of 2025, the U.S. revoked 1,006 fraudulent providers' billing privileges. During the same time period of 2026, he said the U.S. made 1,400 revocations, which amounts to a 40% increase.
In the first half of 2026, he said the U.S. made 1,000 Medicaid payment suspensions, with 800 in California alone. He described that as a 500% increase...
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