OIG Says HCFAC Program Led To $1 Billion In Recoveries In FY 2008
December 8th, 2009
The government won or negotiated approximately $1 billion in judgments and settlements during fiscal year (FY) 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) said in its Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) Program annual report released October 23.
The Medicare Trust Fund received transfers of approximately $1.94 billion during FY 2008 as a result of the Program, in addition to over $344 million in federal Medicaid money similarly transferred separately to the Treasury as a result of HCFAC efforts, the report said.
In addition to its enforcement activities, HHS collected approximately $662.5 million in OIG recommended recoveries, the report highlighted.
OIG further reported that U.S. Attorneys’ Offices opened 957 new criminal healthcare fraud investigations involving 1,641 potential defendants in FY 2008.
In addition, federal prosecutors had 1,600 healthcare fraud criminal investigations pending, involving 2,580 potential defendants, and filed criminal charges in 502 cases involving 797 defendants, the report found.
Also in FY 2008, the Department of Justice (DOJ) opened 843 new civil healthcare fraud investigations and had 1,311 civil healthcare fraud cases pending.
“In its twelfth year of operation, the Program’s continued success again confirms the soundness of a collaborative approach to identify and prosecute the most egregious instances of health care fraud, to prevent future fraud or abuse, and to protect program beneficiaries,” the report said.
Read full HCFAC Report 2008.
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