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64 HEALTHCARE NEWS DOJ Charges 412 in $1.3B Healthcare Fraud Sweep By Ayla Ellison T he Department of Justice has charged 412 defendants, including 115 physicians, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, in a nationwide healthcare fraud sweep. e defendants allegedly participated in healthcare fraud schemes involving $1.3 billion in false billings. More than 120 defendants were charged with illegally prescribing and distributing opioids and other narcotics. In addition to the arrests, HHS initiated actions to suspend the licenses of 295 providers, including physicians, nurses and pharma- cists, according to the DOJ. "Too many trusted medical professionals like doctors, nurses, and pharmacists have chosen to violate their oaths and put greed ahead of their patients," said Attorney General Jeff Ses- sions. "They seem oblivious to the disastrous consequences of their greed. Their actions not only enrich themselves often at the expense of taxpayers but also feed addictions and cause ad- dictions to start." n Former CHI Hospital Administrator Indicted in Bribery Scheme By Ayla Ellison L exington, Ky.-based Saint Joseph Hospital's former executive director of facilities, James Newton, has been indicted for his alleged role in a fraud scheme, accord- ing to the Lexington Herald-Leader. From April 2009 through October 2012, Mr. Newton alleged- ly arranged for Rocky Williams, a contractor, to receive gen- eral contracting work at Saint Joseph Hospital in exchange for illegal kickbacks. Mr. Newton is accused of taking bribes, including a motorcycle, vacations and golf club member- ships, from Mr. Williams. According to the indictment, Mr. Williams submitted invoices for general contracting work to Saint Joseph Hospital and its parent company, Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives. The two men are charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and each face up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines, according to the report. n 16TH ANNUAL SPINE, ORTHOPEDIC & PAIN MANAGEMENT DRIVEN ASC CONFERENCE + THE FUTURE OF SPINE June 14-16, 2018 | Swissotel, Chicago Keynotes from Joe Montana, Legendary NFL Quarterback & Tucker Carlson, Host, Tucker Carlson Tonight and Founder, The Daily Caller Call 1.800.417.2035 or email Scott Becker at sbecker@beckershealthcare.com or Jessica Cole at jcole@beckereshealthcare.com 222 SPEAKERS | 140 PHYSICIAN SPEAKERS ORTHOPEDIC & SPINE SURGEON SPEAKERS BECKER'S ASC REVIEW