Does The Department Of Justice Support Allegations Of Medical Conspiracies?

The Justice Department has announced a series of charges against nearly 200 people accused of participating in health care fraud schemes, with false claims topping $2.7 billion. The charges include criminal charges against 138 defendants, including 42 doctors, nurses, and other licensed medical professionals. The indictment alleges that the charged physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant operated a nominal pain clinic that distributed opioids with no proper licensing. The Justice Department’s Strike Force Model is used to effectively and efficiently prosecute health care fraud and illegal prescription schemes.

Two pain management doctors who pantomimed injections on patients were sentenced to six and a half years apiece for healthcare fraud. In a landmark Idaho case, the Justice Department forced a group of doctors to accept government price controls. The Justice Department alleges a conspiracy to cause physicians to wrongfully prescribe controlled substances could face similar hurdles. Physicians pay over $8 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations of illegal kickbacks. Three doctors and a clinic owner are among those indicted.

The United States Attorney Todd Gee announced criminal charges against a defendant in connection with an alleged conspiracy to defraud the United States. The Appellant’s representative submitted that it is an unlawful interference with freedom of expression to sanction a doctor for views on the False Claims Act. If a complaint describes an action that could be a violation of the criminal provision of HIPAA, the Office of the Attorney (OCR) may refer the complaint to the Department of Justice (DOJ).