The Medicare Fraud Strike Force annual take down seems imminent. I devote a large portion of my practice to assisting health care providers, pharmacies, and sales and marketing professionals in civil and criminal investigations relating to health care fraud and abuse, violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, and drug diversion.
Since 2007 it has been an annual summer tradition that the Department of Justice, through its Strike Force, which is composed of various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies (e.g., OIG-HHS, DEA, FBI, Medicaid Fraud Control Units) will arrest various persons for alleged health care fraud and abuse in HEAT cities (Miami, Tampa, Brooklyn, Detroit, Los Angeles, Dallas, Southern Texas, Southern Louisiana, and Chicago). DOJ appears to be focused on drug rehabilitation centers and sober homes, laboratories, hospice providers, assisted living facilities (ALFs), home health agencies, and compounding and/or specialty pharmacies. Based on the timing of previous take-downs, it is anticipated that this annual summer “take-down” might happen soon. During this time, if government agents arrest, detain, or seek to question a specific individual, it is absolutely critical that the person retain adequate and competent counsel.
In the past, Medicare Fraud Strike Force has arrested dozens, if not hundreds of persons, in the span of a few days in the HEAT cities mentioned above. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force is an essential component of the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat Medicare fraud. Last year in 2016 many of the arrests were targeted at home health agencies, pharmacies, and individual physicians. This year it would not be surprising to see additional arrests by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force involving those same entities. Yet, it appears that the Medicare Fraud Strike Force is also seriously considering laboratories, drug rehabilitation and substance abuse treatment centers, compounding pharmacies, hospice providers, assisted living facilities, and others.
Add a Comment