'One of them bought a Roll Royce': 55 people charged in alleged $6.5B healthcare fraud schemes

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against 455 people across 45 states accused of participating in "healthcare fraud schemes" involving more than $6.5 billion in false claims. This announcement marks the greatest combined federal and state effort in combating healthcare fraud in history," Blanche added. "Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and the vice president, and all those folks standing behind me and next to me, we are more united than ever before." Blanche was joined by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He described it as the second largest amount ever charged in a single healthcare fraud operation. "Every fraudulent dollar diverted into a criminal scheme is a dollar unavailable for patient care, for medical innovation, or for services for vulnerable Americans," Kennedy said. Dr. Mehmet Oz, who is the administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the "numbers tell the story." He said in the first quarter of 2025, the U.S. revoked 1,006 fraudulent providers' billing privileges. During the same time period of 2026, he said the U.S. made 1,400 revocations, which amounts to a 40% increase. In the first half of 2026, he said the U.S. made 1,000 Medicaid payment suspensions, with 800 in California alone. He described that as a 500% increase when compared to the previous year's time frame. _______________ Stay up to date with our social media:   / komonews     / komonews     / komo4     / komo4seattle   Download our iOS App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/komo-... Download our Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de... Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 206.404.4000 KOMO News (ABC 4) provides the latest breaking news, sports, weather, traffic, and local event coverage in the Seattle and Western Washington/Puget Sound area, including Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, Bellingham, Yakima, and surrounding communities. This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information, contact us at [email protected] #komo #komonews #komo4 #komo4news #seattle #seattlenews #washingtonnews