U.S. authorities have charged 107 people, including doctors and nurses, with trying to defraud the federal Medicare program of $452 million, the Obama administration said yesterday.
At least 91 people were arrested in seven cities: Baton Rouge, La., Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and Tampa, Fla. Charges include submitting false billing for home health care, mental-health services, HIV infusions and physical therapy, plus money laundering and receiving kickbacks.
Justice Department and Health and Human Services Department officials were unable to say how much Medicare paid out, but a review of 34 complaints and indictments showed efforts to recover at least $59.5 million.
“These fraud schemes were committed by people up and down the chain of health-care providers — from doctors, nurses, and licensed clinical social workers, to office managers and patient recruiters,” said Lanny Breuer, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s criminal division.
Post Continues on www.dispatch.com