DOJ Announces Charges in Alleged $2.5 Billion Health Care Fraud Scheme
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The Department of Justice announced “criminal charges against 78 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that included over $2.5 billion in alleged fraud.”
Key Quotes: In a statement from the Department of Justice, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, “These enforcement actions, including against one of the largest health care fraud schemes ever prosecuted by the Justice Department, represent our intensified efforts to combat fraud and prosecute the individuals who profit from it. The Justice Department will find and bring to justice criminals who seek to defraud Americans and steal from taxpayer-funded programs.” The statement also quotes Inspector General Christi A. Grimm of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General saying, “Patients trust federal health care programs to provide high quality care. When bad actors steal from these programs, they hurt patients.”
Details: Out of the $2.5 billion in fraudulent claims, $1.1 billion was reportedly paid out. Federal prosecutors are bringing fraud charges in 16 states. The alleged fraud included targeting “elderly and disabled” Americans, per the DOJ statement, convincing them to purchase unneeded medical equipment and prescriptions. The DOJ also charged 10 defendants with pharmaceutical fraud, alleging they “purchased illegally diverted prescription HIV medication, and then marketed and resold the medication by falsely representing that the company acquired it through legitimate channels.”
How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum covered the charges mildly, emphasizing the focus on elderly and disabled Americans.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
DOJ targets nationwide health care fraud scheme involving over $2.5 billion
The Justice Department announced a sweeping enforcement effort Wednesday aimed at health care, telemedicine and illegal prescription schemes totaling of $2.5 billion in alleged fraud.
The two-week national law enforcement effort resulted in both federal and state level charges against 78 defendants – 24 of whom are doctors, nurses, or other licensed medical professionals. Cases were brought 16 states including California, Florida, Georgia and New York. As part of the enforcement action officials issued 90 Medicare and Medicaid revocations and billing suspensions, and seized or restrained millions of dollars in...
From the Right
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.
From the Center
DOJ charges nearly 80 people in $2.5 billion health care fraud scheme
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wednesday it has charged 78 people relating to their alleged involvement in defrauding care programs for elderly and disabled people of more than $2.5 billion.
Among the charges filed against the accused are allegations of telemedicine fraud, pharmaceutical fraud and accusations of opioid distribution. Many of the defendants obtained their funds by making fraudulent claims for Medicare reimbursement, often for items that were ineligible.
“These enforcement actions, including against one of the largest health care fraud schemes ever prosecuted by the Justice Department, represent...
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May 17th, 2024
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