DOJ Charges 324 in Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown Across 50 Districts

The Department of Justice announced the largest coordinated healthcare fraud takedown in its history, charging 324 defendants with schemes involving $14.6 billion in false claims. The investigation spanned 50 federal districts and included the illegal distribution of over 15 million pills, with nearly $3 billion in false claims linked to the fraud. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz highlighted CMS as a major target, noting the agency handles $1.7 trillion in disbursements vulnerable to fraud through compromised identifier numbers. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino emphasized that public corruption and theft of public funds will be aggressively pursued, sharing that the FBI seized $245 million and charged 96 medical professionals among the defendants. The coordinated effort involved DOJ, FBI, DEA, and CMS officials working together to combat healthcare fraud affecting Medicare and Medicaid programs.