DOJ charges 19 in Medicaid fraud case as strike force tops $45 billion nationally

The Justice Department on Tuesday charged 19 defendants in alleged Philadelphia-area schemes that generated more than $4 million in fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims, while expanding its Northeast Health Care Fraud Strike Force into the city.

The defendants include home health aides, Medicaid recipients, and owners and employees of home care companies, according to the DOJ’s announcement. Officials alleged that some billed Medicaid for services that were never provided, including care purportedly delivered while aides or recipients were incarcerated, hospitalized, traveling overseas, or working other jobs.