U.S. Attorney Dena J. King | U.S. Department of Justice
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte, North Carolina, recently held the annual meeting of the Western District’s Health Care Fraud Working Group. This group is a coalition of federal and state agencies aimed at tackling health care fraud and safeguarding taxpayer money within the region.
The working group includes members from various organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and other significant federal and state bodies. These entities collaborate to address issues related to fraudulent activities within the health care system.
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King emphasized the significance of inter-agency cooperation during the meeting. "Health care fraud undermines public trust, exploits vulnerable patients, and siphons billions from taxpayer-funded programs," she stated. King further highlighted that by pooling resources and expertise, these agencies can effectively tackle health care fraud schemes and safeguard essential government programs relied upon by many North Carolinians.
The mission of this working group involves detecting health care fraud through coordinated efforts such as investigations, information sharing, identifying both existing and new schemes, and developing cases against perpetrators. The group's focus extends to various fraudulent activities including false billing practices, COVID-19-related scams, kickback schemes, and fraud targeting government-supported programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE.
The group also scrutinizes fraudulent actions committed by corporate entities as well as individuals in sectors like hospitals, telemedicine companies, nursing homes, pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, durable medical equipment suppliers, physicians, therapists, among others.
For those suspecting Medicare or Medicaid fraud occurrences are encouraged to report them via phone at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or email at HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov. In North Carolina specifically for Medicaid fraud reporting can be done through their Medicaid Investigations Division at 919-881-2320 or online complaint forms are available.
Reports concerning TRICARE or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system fraud can be made through respective channels provided by these organizations.
