On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced healthcare fraud charges against 13 people in the Northern District of Texas for seven different cases that federal officials say targeted vulnerable people and exploited taxpayer-funded programs.
United States Attorney Ryan Raybould said the hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent healthcare claims were submitted to Medicare, Tricare and other insurers.
"These cases represent collective fraudulent billing of more than $365-million," said Raybould, "The defendants in some of these cases diverted funds intended to serve vulnerable populations, including those folks who are elderly Medicare beneficiaries and members of the military, to line their own pockets."
Federal officials say they've seized more than $35 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets.
One North Texas case referenced at a press conference on Tuesday involved a skin-graft company that offered wound-care products billed to Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for kickbacks, resulting in $260 million in false and fraudulent claims.
Another case Raybould referenced involved a psychological counselor in North Texas who is accused of providing medically unnecessary therapy billed to Tricare for military veterans.
"Some of those individuals, in fact, never received any therapy at all or treatment," said Raybould, "Yet the defendant billed Tricare for over $26 million in false and fraudulent claims."
Those charged in the seven cases out of the Northern...
False. The quotes attributed to the politicians have been fabricated by a foreign-run disinformation operation. AAP FactCheck - Pauline Hanson and Anthony Albanese did not trade barbs during a liv...