The Department of Justice has charged 412 defendants, including 115 physicians, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, in a nationwide healthcare fraud sweep.
The defendants allegedly participated in healthcare fraud schemes involving $1.3 billion in false billings. More than 120 defendants were charged with illegally prescribing and distributing opioids and other narcotics.
In addition to the arrests, HHS initiated actions to suspend the licenses of 295 providers, including physicians, nurses and pharmacists, according to the DOJ.
"Too many trusted medical professionals like doctors, nurses, and pharmacists have chosen to violate their oaths and put greed ahead of their patients," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "They seem oblivious to the disastrous consequences of their greed. Their actions not only enrich themselves often at the expense of taxpayers but also feed addictions and cause addictions to start."
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