Justice Department Reports More Than $8B In Alleged Fraud Related to COVID-19 Relief Programs
The Washington Post reports, “Since the U.S. government first marshaled its historic economic response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Justice Department has uncovered a vast array of alleged fraud, resulting in charges and investigations involving more than $8 billion in federal aid.” The extent of the alleged fraud “is vast, touching nearly every major facet of the roughly $6 trillion that Congress adopted over a two-year period to support families, workers and businesses.” These figures “prompted the DOJ to redouble its enforcement efforts – chiefly through the appointment of a new director.”
Congressional Omnibus Bill Extends Medicare Telehealth Coverage
If enacted, the Congressional Omnibus Spending Bill will extend several temporary telehealth waivers enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic for Medicare beneficiaries past the expiration of the public health emergency.
Justice Department’s False Claims Act Settlements and Judgments Exceed $5.6 Billion in Fiscal Year 2021
The Justice Department obtained more than $5.6 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud and false claims against the government in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2021. This is the second largest annual total in False Claims Act history, and the largest since 2014. Settlement and judgments since 1986, when Congress substantially strengthened the civil False Claims...
A person in his 30s who demanded compensation for alleged foreign substances in cup noodles and the absence of meat in stir-fried pork was sentenced to prison in both the first trial and the appel...