Hoarding Medical Supplies, Price-Gouging, Alabama 2020
Hoarding Medical Supplies, Price-Gouging, Alabama 2020
Birmingham, Ala. — In a desperate bid to combat coronavirus-related crimes, U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town is urging hospitals and medical professionals in Northern Alabama to report individuals and companies engaging in hoarding and price-gouging of medical supplies.
The warning comes as Attorney General William Barr directs all 93 U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of COVID-19 related fraud, which includes Medicaid/Medicare billing manipulations, the sale of fake or counterfeit personal protective equipment, sale of bogus medicines related to COVID-19, and the hoarding and/or price gouging of critical medical supplies and materials.
“While this pandemic has brought to the fore the very best among us, we are unfortunately becoming increasingly aware of myriad coronavirus-related criminal activities in our District and around the country,” Town said. “In relevant part to the medical providers, these crimes include Medicaid/Medicare billing manipulations, the sale of fake or counterfeit personal protective equipment, sale of bogus medicines related to COVID-19, and the hoarding and/or price gouging of critical medical supplies and materials. These practices are not only morally repugnant in light of the pandemic we are facing, but also, if left unchecked, can inhibit hospitals, physicians and other health care professionals, government agencies, and the public from fully implementing measures designed to save lives and mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.”
Town is encouraging the public to report COVID-19 related fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or to the email address disaster@leo.gov. The NCDF was established to investigate and prosecute disaster-related fraud and is a critical component in the federal government's efforts to combat COVID-19 related scams.
“We need the public's help to identify and prosecute those who are taking advantage of this pandemic for personal gain,” Town said. “We urge anyone with information about COVID-19 related scams to come forward and report it to the NCDF.”
The warning from Town comes as the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama continues to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of COVID-19 related crimes. In addition to the warning to hospitals, Town is also encouraging the public to report any other COVID-19 related scams they may encounter.
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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