DOJ Charges 78 People for $2.5 Billion in Health Care Fraud

The Department of Justice on Wednesday announced criminal charges against 78 people across 16 U.S. states for alleged health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that resulted in $2.5 billion in alleged fraudulent claims.

According to the department, the elderly and disabled, as well as HIV patients, were among those targeted by the schemes.

Of the $2.5 billion in alleged fraudulent claims, about $1.1 billion was paid out, officials said. The claims were made to Medicare, state Medicaid programs, and supplemental Medicare insurance programs provided by private insurers.