Health care providers are trusted worldwide. According to a report released on October 4, 2012 by Chuck Buck, publisher of the RACmonitor, following a flounce over seven U. S. cities by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, 91 health-care providers have been caught for allegedly participating in Medicare fraud schemes. A total of $429.2 million by the way of false billing has been made.

The investigation was carried out on the orders of Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson of the HHS Office of Inspector General
(HHS-OIG), and few others.

As soon as the indictments were exposed all over the country, a number of individuals have been arrested. Some even surrendered, as said in an OIG news release.

As a penalty, more than $230 million has been charged for the home health-care fraud. As far as mental health-care is concerned, more than $100 million has been charged and a minimum of $49 million in regard of ambulance transportation fraud has been penalized. Several other frauds were included in this major scam; each one of them has been charged worth millions.

According to one of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, unless this investigation reaches its conclusion, HHS can even suspend the payments to healthcare providers. Against 30 health care-providers, HHS has already passed suspension orders.