On September 17, 2021, the Department of Justice announced in a PRESS RELEASE that criminal charges had been brought against 138 defendants, including 42 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals. These charges spanned 31 federal districts across the U.S. for alleged participation in various health care fraud schemes that resulted in approximately $1.4 billion in alleged losses. Watch Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr.’s remarks on health care fraud enforcement actions HERE.
The largest amount of the alleged fraud charged related to schemes involving telemedicine – over $1.1 billion in allegedly false and fraudulent claims submitted. Other significant areas of alleged fraud charged related to COVID-19 fraud cases, substance abuse treatment facilities, as well as illegal prescription and/or distribution of opioids.