Record $4.1 billion recovered for fraud, overpayments

The U.S. Justice Department and the Department of Health & Human Services released a report Feb. 14 showing that the government recovered a record $4.1 billion for health care fraud settlements and overpayments in FY2011.

The FY2011 total was the highest annual amount ever recovered from individuals and companies who were accused of health care fraud or who received payments to which they were not entitled, according to a press release accompanying the annual Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program report. The increase was the result of increased oversight of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

In FY2010, the government recovered $2.86 billion, according to previous reports from HHS and the Justice Department. Earlier totals were:

•FY2009, $2.51 billion
•FY2008, $1.94 billion
•FY2007, $797 million
•FY2006, $1.5 billion
•FY2005, $1.55 billion