In FY2018, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (OIG) reported that the federal government obtained more than $2.3 billion in healthcare fraud-related judgments and settlements. There were 1,139 criminal healthcare fraud investigations opened, along with 918 new civil cases filed. There were 497 defendants convicted of healthcare fraud-related crimes during that year as well. Clearly, the risk for healthcare providers of being sanctioned for violating federal law is very real, with consequences including fines, imprisonment, civil monetary penalties, and exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs. Continue reading >