Combating health care fraud will continue to be a priority for the Jeff Sessions-led Department of Justice (DOJ).

DOJ Criminal Division’s Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco, in a May 18 speech at the ABA’s Institute on Health Care Fraud, said that Attorney General Jeff Sessions “feels very strongly” that “health care fraud is a priority for the Department of Justice.”  Mr. Blanco called health care fraud “despicable” and said, “the investigation and prosecution of health care fraud will continue; the department will be vigorous in its pursuit of those who violate the law in this area.”  Mr. Blanco continued, “I can tell you that [Attorney General Sessions] has expressed this to me personally.”

Mr. Blanco sent a strong and clear message to the audience of health care attorneys, defense counsel, compliance professionals, and relators counsel that the Justice Department’s longstanding commitment to combating health care fraud will continue. His speech appeared to be designed to address concerns that changes in emphasis in the DOJ Criminal Division towards  immigration and violent crime would come at the expense of health care fraud investigations.  Attorney General Sessions is committed to investigating and prosecuting health care fraud because, Mr. Blanco said, health care fraud hurts vulnerable people seeking medical care and costs the government and tax payers almost $100 billion annually.