Over 100 People Charged with Healthcare Insurance Fraud
More than 100 doctors, nurses and physical therapists from eight states including California were charged yesterday with healthcare insurance fraud for overbilling the nation’s Medicare program. This is this nation’s largest healthcare insurance fraud bust to date.
Over 700 federal law enforcement agents investigated and arrested the defendants who are accused of illegally billing Medicare over $225 million. This bust was part of a national effort to combat an epidemic that has cost the government between $60 billion and $90 billion each year.
If convicted, these defendants face federal penalties that include imprisonment, SUBSTANTIAL fines and repayment of any monies that were fraudulently obtained. They will also likely face the same types of penalties from their local governing states. And, in California, for example, a conviction for healthcare insurance fraud will also most likely result in a revocation of the defendant’s professional licenses.
It is also probable that at least some of these defendants will face additional charges for conspiracy, mail fraud, money laundering, embezzlement and grand theft.
