Justice Department Expands Health Care Fraud Strike Force to Philadelphia Amid $4M Fraud Charges
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the expansion of its Northeast Health Care Fraud Strike Force to Philadelphia. This move is part of a broader effort to combat Medicare and Medicaid fraud, particularly in home health care services. The expansion will establish a new strike force office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, bringing together the DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the district. In conjunction with this expansion, federal and Pennsylvania authorities have charged 19 individuals with participating in schemes that allegedly defrauded Medicare and Medicaid of over $4 million. The defendants include owners and employees of home health care companies, purported aides, and Medicaid recipients. The charges involve fraudulent claims, such as billing for services not rendered and submitting overlapping work hours.