A $14.6 billion web of deceit that stretched across the country has prompted a massive federal crackdown in the U.S. health care system. More than 300 people are facing charges nationwide in what the Justice Department calls the largest health care fraud takedown in American history.
In North and South Carolina, prosecutors say scammers siphoned off over $20 million in taxpayer funds by filing fraudulent claims, targeting the most vulnerable, including severely disabled children.
“Republican and Democrat, we're all here with one goal and that is to eradicate health care fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson, according to WCNC.
The Carolina cases are part of what officials are calling “Operation Border War,” named after the investigation into a network of fake companies near the border between North and South Carolina operated with the alleged goal of defrauding Medicaid.
A multi-state probe uncovered two major schemes, both operating out of Charlotte and crossing state lines. In the first case, authorities say Donald Saunders and seven co-conspirators allegedly stole $21 million from South Carolina’s Medicaid program by filing false claims using stolen patient information of severely disabled children.
But these kids never received care.
“The majority, nearly all of these were severely disabled children,” said South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. “Children who were quadriplegic or nonverbal or autistic, billing for...
A $14.6 billion web of deceit that stretched across the country has prompted a massive federal crackdown in the U.S. health care system. More than 300 people are facing charges nationwide in what ...