300 Charged In Largest Takedown Of Medicare, Medicaid Fraud In U.S. History
The nationwide sweep exposed alleged kickbacks, embezzlement and fake claims, the Department of Justice announced. In Southern California, 22 people were charged and in Orange County seven were charged.
Los Angeles Times:
Nation's Biggest Healthcare Fraud Probe Nets 301 People, Including 22 In Southern California
Several doctors, a psychiatrist and a pharmacist were among 22 people in Southern California charged as part of a nationwide investigation into federal healthcare fraud schemes that frequently targeted military families and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, the U.S. Justice Department announced Wednesday. ... In Southern California, five physicians were among those arrested in cases involving $125 million in elaborate fraud schemes that targeted Medicare and the military’s medical plan and involved medical billing, unnecessary procedures and high-priced specialized compound medications. The charges in 13 criminals cases filed in federal courts in Los Angeles and Santa Ana include conspiracy, money laundering, kickback schemes and identity theft, according to several federal indictments. (Winton, 6/22)
Orange County Register:
Seven From O.C. Arrested In Health Fraud Sweep
A Laguna Beach psychiatrist and six other Orange County residents have been charged with participating in Southern California health fraud schemes that bilked government insurance programs of more than $125 million, prosecutors said Wednesday. In all, 22 defendants face federal charges in Santa Ana and Los Angeles as part of a nationwide sweep involving 301 people accused of falsely billing $900 million, the U.S. attorney’s office said. Authorities described the takedown as the largest in U.S. history, both in the number of those arrested and the financial scope of the fraud. (Perkes, 6/22)