U.S. completes 'takedown' of Medicare fraud: officials

[jpak]

Source: Reuters

U.S. law enforcement officials have charged 301 suspects with trying to defraud Medicare and other federal insurance programs in 2016, marking the "largest takedown" involving health care fraud allegations, the Justice Department said on Wednesday.

The national sweep resulted in charges against doctors, nurses, pharmacists and physical therapists accused of fraud that cost the government $900 million, the department said. The cases involved an array of charges, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, money laundering and violations of an anti-kickback law.

This year's sweep exceeded last year's record in which 243 defendants faced charges in a combined $712 million in government losses. Officials said it was the largest takedown in the nine-year history of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, a joint initiative between federal, state and local law enforcement.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch said some of the cases reflect new, troublesome trends, including instances of identity theft in order to prepare fake prescriptions and a growing number of cases involving compounding, or the mixing of medications tailored to meet a patient's needs.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-medicare-fraud-idUSKCN0Z81C8

[Helen Borg]

1. Sons of bitches!

[RussBLib]

2. excellent news

But you have to keep after these frauds. They will quickly adapt and try something different, and there will be newer crooks to fill the gaps.

I just hate it that so many people are willing to defraud the government and other Americans for a little personal enrichment. It's cold comfort that the number of crooks are vastly outweighed by honest people.

[Midnight Writer]

3. Good start. Keep swinging the hammer. But the most significant fraud is probably perfectly legal.