The Justice Department has announced its 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, charging 455 defendants, including 90 physicians and other licensed medical professionals, in schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in false claims, the department said in a June 23 news release.
The action represents the largest coordinated healthcare fraud enforcement effort in department history, spanning 56 federal districts and 45 states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating. Among the cases, charges were filed against 11 defendants in connection with billions of dollars in fraudulent wound allograft claims, a Florida cardiovascular practice medical director was charged in an $89 million scheme involving unnecessary cardiac testing on student athletes and a nurse practitioner in Texas was charged in a $906 million allograft scheme.
The takedown also included the apprehension of three international fugitives, including one wanted in connection with a $3.7 billion fraud scheme apprehended in Cyprus and another on the FBI’s newly created Most Wanted Fraudsters List captured in the Philippines. The action resulted in the seizure of more than $182 million in cash and assets, suspension of 1,079 providers by CMS and revocation of billing privileges for 1,403 providers.
The 2026 takedown also marked the largest Medicaid fraud enforcement in department history, with 295 defendants charged for more than $518 million in false Medicaid claims.
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