The Justice Department announced the 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action, resulting in criminal charges against 193 defendants, including 76 medical professionals across 32 federal districts in the United States. The alleged schemes involved approximately $2.75 billion in intended losses and $1.6 billion in actual losses.
In coordination with federal and state law enforcement partners, the government seized over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, "It does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a corporate executive or medical professional employed by a health care company; if you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable."
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas emphasized the role of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents: "Through this action, we in federal law enforcement send a clear and strong message—that we will hold accountable those health care providers and prescribers who prey on their patients for profit."
FBI Director Christopher Wray noted that healthcare fraud endangers vulnerable people and plunders healthcare programs: "This wide-ranging collaboration demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to rooting out predatory healthcare fraud."
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri highlighted that healthcare fraud raises costs for all patients and can harm individuals directly: "The Criminal Division is committed to rooting out health care fraud wherever it may be found."
Today's enforcement action was led by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section along with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, HHS-OIG, FBI, DEA, and other agencies.
Key cases include:
- A $900 million fraud scheme involving amniotic wound grafts.
- Unlawful distribution of millions of Adderall pills by five defendants associated with Done Global Inc.
- A $90 million wire fraud conspiracy involving adulterated HIV drugs.
- Over $146 million in fraudulent addiction treatment schemes.
- Over $1.1 billion in telemedicine and laboratory fraud.
- Over $450 million in other health care fraud and opioid schemes.
Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure of CMS remarked on the importance of investigating fraud to sustain Medicare: "CMS took 127 administrative actions separately against providers for their alleged involvement in health care fraud schemes."
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram commented on the serious nature of over-prescribing stimulant pills: "The seriousness of these actions should not be understated."
HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm stressed collaboration: "Those who steal from these programs are stealing from American families who rely on them."
HHS-OIG Inspector General Christi A. Grimm added that protecting taxpayer dollars is crucial: "We must protect taxpayer dollars and keep Americans safe from harms to their health."
An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
###