DOJ Charges 324 Defendants in Unprecedented Health Care Fraud Takedown
On June 30, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed criminal charges against 324 defendants across the country alleging participation in various health care fraud schemes. The DOJ identified the operation as the 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, and highlighted it as the highest volume of health care cases brought in a single day. The DOJ further asserted that the cases reflect more than $14.6 billion in intended losses.
Significantly, nearly one-third of the allegations were made against individual medical practitioners, charging 96 licensed medical professionals, including doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed professionals. The charges represent a wide range of alleged conduct, including allegations of prescription opioid trafficking, fraudulent COVID testing schemes, telemedicine and genetic testing fraud, kickback schemes, and various false and fraudulent billings to Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies.
The Takedown, led by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, reflects the DOJ and Trump Administration’s increasing focus on health care fraud. Indeed, a similar health care fraud enforcement action in June 2024 resulted in just 193 prosecutions, 76 of which were against individual licensed professionals.
Attorney General Pam Bondi contended that the 2025 operation “delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers.” In announcing the charges, Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the DOJ’s Criminal Division, stated that the Division is “intensely committed” to health care fraud prosecutions “because these schemes: (1) often result in physical patient harm through medically unnecessary treatments or failure to provide the correct treatments; (2) contribute to our nationwide opioid epidemic and exacerbate controlled substance addiction; and (3) do all of that while stealing money hardworking Americans contribute to pay for the care of their elders and other vulnerable citizens.”
The breadth of charges and the DOJ’s statements about the Takedown suggest that actions focused on alleged fraud in the health care space, including those against individual licensed medical professionals, will continue to be a priority in coming years and will certainly require a renewed focus on compliance, fraud detection, and engagement with the DOJ.
Vedder Thinking | Articles DOJ Charges 324 Defendants in Unprecedented Health Care Fraud Takedown
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July 2, 2025
On June 30, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed criminal charges against 324 defendants across the country alleging participation in various health care fraud schemes. The DOJ identified the operation as the 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, and highlighted it as the highest volume of health care cases brought in a single day. The DOJ further asserted that the cases reflect more than $14.6 billion in intended losses.
Significantly, nearly one-third of the allegations were made against individual medical practitioners, charging 96 licensed medical professionals, including doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed professionals. The charges represent a wide range of alleged conduct, including allegations of prescription opioid trafficking, fraudulent COVID testing schemes, telemedicine and genetic testing fraud, kickback schemes, and various false and fraudulent billings to Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies.
The Takedown, led by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the DOJ Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, reflects the DOJ and Trump Administration’s increasing focus on health care fraud. Indeed, a similar health care fraud enforcement action in June 2024 resulted in just 193 prosecutions, 76 of which were against individual licensed professionals.
Attorney General Pam Bondi contended that the 2025 operation “delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers.” In announcing the charges, Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the DOJ’s Criminal Division, stated that the Division is “intensely committed” to health care fraud prosecutions “because these schemes: (1) often result in physical patient harm through medically unnecessary treatments or failure to provide the correct treatments; (2) contribute to our nationwide opioid epidemic and exacerbate controlled substance addiction; and (3) do all of that while stealing money hardworking Americans contribute to pay for the care of their elders and other vulnerable citizens.”
The breadth of charges and the DOJ’s statements about the Takedown suggest that actions focused on alleged fraud in the health care space, including those against individual licensed medical professionals, will continue to be a priority in coming years and will certainly require a renewed focus on compliance, fraud detection, and engagement with the DOJ.
