Medicare fraud dragnet snares 91 nationwide

In its continued health care fraud crackdown, the Obama administration announced Wednesday that charges were filed against 91 people in eight cities. These people are accused of bilking Medicare out of an estimated $300 million.

The Washington Post: 91 Charged With Medicare Fraud Across The U.S.
The Obama administration escalated its crackdown on health care fraud Wednesday, announcing charges against 91 people in eight cities who are accused of bilking the Medicare system out of nearly $300 million and victimizing the elderly and disabled people who rely on the federal insurance program (Markon, 9/7).

USA Today: Medicare Fraud Sting Results In 91 Arrests Nationwide
The cases in the coordinated nationwide strike consisted of billing for services never provided, money laundering, providing kickbacks for Medicare beneficiary numbers, and, in one case, threatening Medicare recipients that they would lose their housing if they did not participate in a scheme in Miami. More than 400 agencies participated in the sting (Kennedy, 9/7).

National Journal: Feds Arrest 91 For Medicare Fraud
The federal government indicted 91 people on Wednesday for Medicare fraud worth an estimated $295 million. Most were doctors and nurses in Miami, where Medicare fraud has been a special problem. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force, a joint effort of the Health and Human Services and Justice departments, has been working hard to make high-profile arrests, as preventing Medicare fraud is an area the Obama administration has tried to highlight as a benefit of the 2010 health-reform law (McCarthy, 9/7).

The Hill: 91 People Charged In Medicare Fraud Crackdown
Federal officials announced Wednesday that they've charged 91 people with defrauding Medicare by nearly $300 million. Officials from the Justice Department and the Health and Human Services Department announced the charges, which stem from investigations by a joint "strike force" that targets Medicare fraud. The charges represent the single largest "takedown" since the Medicare Fraud Strike Force was formed in 2007, according to HHS. Prosecutors unsealed indictments against 70 medical professionals Tuesday and Wednesday. Those 70 people are accused of participating in Medicare fraud schemes totaling roughly $264 million. A handful of other indictments over the past few weeks bring the total to $295 million (Baker, 9/7).