A multiagency “strike force” targeting fraudulent Medicare billing related to infusion therapy and durable medical equipment recently made 38 arrests.
The arrests, all in south Florida, mark the first phase of operations for the team of federal, state, and local officials. The team began its investigations in March using real-time analysis of billing data from Medicare and claims data from the Health Care Information System. In May, the departments of Justice and Health and Human Services jointly announced the team had obtained indictments of individuals and health care companies alleged to have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $142 million. Charges include conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program, criminal false claims, and violations of the antikickback statutes.
The antifraud efforts drew praise from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.).
“Federal health dollars are just too scarce to lose to fraud and abuse in Medicare,” he said in a statement. “I'm glad to see the Justice Department taking this new, more aggressive stance against scams that endanger Medicare patients and that rob all taxpayers who contribute to America's health care programs.”
Sen. Baucus recently expressed concern about reports of durable medical equipment fraud in South Florida. In one instance, the Health and Human Services inspector general found many device suppliers were not at their advertised addresses but were billing Medicare for millions of dollars in reimbursement.