Turning up the heat on Medicare fraud

According to a statement by Secretary of HHS Catherine Sebelius in a June 24 HHS Press Release, "the Obama Administration is committed to turning up the heat on Medicare fraud..."  As evidence of this commitment, the Press Release announced the indictment of 53 individuals, including physicians and health care executives, accused of various Medicare fraud offenses ranging from conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program, false claims anti-kickback statute violations.  Among other things, the indictments allege that the individuals conspired to submit claims for medically unnecessary services and services not rendered as well as to pay kickbacks to beneficiaries to attest that they received the services.  The Press Release can be viewed here.