WASHINGTON — For the six months from October 2010 through March 2011, HHS' Office of Inspector General took actions that are expected to total $3.4 billion in recoveries related to investigations, audits and other reviews, mainly of Medicare and Medicaid. The monies include about $222 million from audits and $3.2 billion from 349 criminal and 197 civil actions during the period, the OIG announced last week.
Among the highlights in its tally, the OIG pointed to a Medicare Fraud Strike Force action in February involving more than 300 special agents in nine cities that resulted in the arrests of more than 100 defendants. The arrests included doctors, nurses, health care company owners and others for their alleged participation in fraud schemes involving more than $225 million in false billing.
The OIG made the announcement in conjunction with the June 1 release of its Semiannual Report to Congress.