The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that the government’s healthcare fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered more than $4 billion in taxpayer dollars in fiscal year (FY) 2010, the highest annual amount ever recovered from people who attempted to defraud seniors and taxpayers. HHS has also announced new rules authorized by the Affordable Care Act that will help the department work to prevent and fight fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Resources provided by the Affordable Care Act now include an additional $350 million for Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC) activities. Tools already in place include enhanced screenings and enrollment requirements, increased data sharing across government, expanded overpayment recovery efforts, and greater oversight of private insurance abuses.
A total of 726 defendants were convicted for healthcare fraud-related crimes during the year. In addition, 2010 proved to be a record year for recoveries obtained in civil healthcare matters brought under the False Claims Act-more than $2.5 billion, which is the largest in the history of the Department of Justice.
Editor’s note: This story has been adapted from materials provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
