⏱ 2 min read
In a shocking case of health care fraud, eight defendants, including three nurses, a chiropractor, and a psychologist, were arrested in Los Angeles for scheming to defraud the nation’s health care system out of over $50 million. The scam involved running sham hospice care facilities that bilked Medicare by using people without terminal illnesses as beneficiaries. The arrests were made in coordination with the Vice President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, as part of ‘Operation Never Say Die’.
The defendants, who are expected to make their initial appearances in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles, face years in federal prison for their role in the scam. The Southern California region is considered a high-risk environment for hospice-related and other forms of health care fraud, with the United States losing hundreds of billions of dollars annually to healthcare fraud.
The magnitude of the losses underscores a deliberate abuse of the authority and trust afforded to health care providers. First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli stated that the defendants ‘got caught and now face years in federal prison’ for their role in the scam. The case highlights the need for continued efforts to combat health care fraud and protect American taxpayers.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). The case is a significant example of the ongoing efforts to combat health care fraud and protect the integrity of the nation’s health care system.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: California
- Location: CA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
