91 arrested in Medicare fraud crackdown

An investigation into Medicare fraud in seven U.S. cities has resulted in the arrests of 91 individuals, officials said Thursday. Among those arrested were doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a release. The suspects were allegedly involved in various healthcare fraud-related crimes, including conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, violations of the anti-kickback statutes and money laundering, the statement said. They were arrested in Miami, Dallas, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Baton Rouge, La. Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the outcome of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations. "Today's enforcement actions reveal an alarming and unacceptable trend of individuals attempting to exploit federal healthcare programs to steal billions in taxpayer dollars for personal gain," Holder said. "Such activities not only siphon precious taxpayer resources, drive up healthcare costs, and jeopardize the strength of the Medicare program -- they also disproportionately victimize the most vulnerable members of society, including elderly, disabled and impoverished Americans."