WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- Thirty-two doctors and healthcare executives were indicted in Houston Wednesday for allegedly billing more than $16 million in false claims.
While a federal grand jury in Houston returned the indictments, the arrests were made in Houston, New York, Boston and in several locations in Louisiana, the U.S. Justice Department said in a news release.
The Justice Department said the arrests were the result of a Medicare Fraud Strike Force operation in Houston. The operation is the fourth phase of a criminal, civil and administrative effort against individuals and healthcare companies that fraudulently bill the Medicare program.
The Medicare Fraud Strike Force, a joint operation of the departments of Justice and Health and Human Services, is a multi-agency team of federal, state and local investigators, the Justice Department said.
"Our Medicare Strike Force is striking back against healthcare fraud in all its forms and wherever it occurs. We will stop fraud as it's happening, using real-time data analysis of Medicare billing records," Deputy Attorney General David Ogden said. "Those who commit healthcare fraud will not be allowed to steal money from American taxpayers."
