In response to recent trends in the healthcare sector, the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) has announced their intentions to increase their prosecution efforts in healthcare fraud. The announcement included plans to substantially expand their current roster of 75 prosecuters who specialize in this area.
This change came during a recent Healthcare Compliance Association conference in Washington, D.C., where John “Fritz” Scanlon, assistant chief of the DOJ’s criminal division, specifically in the fraud section, spoke on the subject. Scanlon painted a clearer image of the Department’s health sector strategy by revealing that these 75 prosecutors are situated among seven judicial task forces across the U.S.
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, a well-known player in legal societal implications, highlighted the significance of this move. They delineated the impact that an increased governmental strength might have on corporate legal departments and law firms who handle healthcare-related cases.
While it is no secret that healthcare fraud has been a long-running issue, the sheer scale of recent fraud in the healthcare sector likely provided impetus for this decision by the DoJ – a decision evidently directed at clamping down on illegal practices within the industry. This reaffirms redoubling efforts on healthcare fraud as one of the DoJ’s key objectives, necessitating more rigorous compliance protocols by healthcare entities.
To effectively navigate these tightened controls and potential challenges, it is important for legal professionals working within healthcare corporations and law firms to consider bolstering their fraud preventive measures and compliance programs. The apparent increase in the DoJ’s commitment signals a foreseeable ramp-up in healthcare investigations and potentially, prosecutions.
Preparedness in such circumstance is crucial – our field may soon see even more healthcare cases landing on desks. Legal professionals are encouraged to closely monitor legislative changes, court decisions, and DoJ activities linked to healthcare in the foreseeable future.