DOJ Launches West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force Targeting Medicare Fraud in Western States

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force, a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the DOJ's Health Care Fraud Section with U.S. Attorney's Offices in Nevada, Arizona, and Northern District of California. The strike force, coordinated by Acting Chief Jacob Foster and Acting Assistant Chief Gary Winters, targets Medicare fraud in western states where criminals are following retiree migration patterns. The initiative builds on the DOJ's strike force model, which has prosecuted more than 6,200 defendants nationwide. The West Coast strike force will coordinate with federal agencies including the FBI, HHS, and DEA to investigate fraud targeting Medicare and other government health programs.

Launch and Structure of West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force

• ▪The U.S. Department of Justice launched the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force to investigate health care fraud in western states including Nevada.
• ▪The West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force is a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the DOJ's Health Care Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nevada, Arizona, and Northern District of California.
• ▪The West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force targets Medicare fraud in western states.
• ▪Health Care Fraud Acting Chief Jacob Foster will be coordinating the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force.

Track Record and Enforcement Approach of DOJ Health Care Fraud Initiatives

• ▪The DOJ considers the Health Care Fraud Strike Force model to be a proven effective approach.
• ▪The DOJ Health Care Fraud Strike Force model has resulted in the prosecution of more than 6,200 defendants nationwide.

Multi-Agency Coordination and Nevada's Role in the Strike Force

• ▪The District of Nevada is part of the newly created West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force.
• ▪Sigal Chattah is the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada.
• ▪The West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force will work with agencies including the FBI and HHS.
• ▪Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the District of Nevada are working in coordination with the FBI, HHS, DEA and other federal, state, and local agencies on health care fraud cases.

Perspective of Department of Justice

• ▪The West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force represents an expansion of the DOJ's proven strike force model to address geographic shifts in health care fraud.
• ▪Criminals are following retiree migration patterns to western states to commit Medicare fraud.

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