The OIG and DOJ have released the “Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2009.” In terms of overall health fraud enforcement efforts, the federal government won or negotiated approximately $1.63 billion in judgments and settlements during FY 2009. Also in FY 2009, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices opened 1,014 new criminal health care fraud investigations involving 1,786 potential defendants. Federal prosecutors had 1,621 health care fraud criminal investigations pending, involving 2,706 potential defendants, and filed criminal charges in 481 cases involving 803 defendants. A total of 583 defendants were convicted for health care fraud-related crimes during the year. Also in FY 2009, the DOJ opened 886 new civil health care fraud investigations and had 1,155 civil health care fraud matters pending. The report also includes a compilation of significant health fraud cases. In a related development, HHS and DOJ issued a press release highlighting provisions in the new health reform law that will build on current anti-fraud initiatives.
