DOJ announced criminal charges against 15 defendants in an alleged Medicaid fraud scheme involving over $90 million in intended loss. The DOJ said it is expanding the Health Care Fraud Section to investigate Medicaid fraud nationwide, including adding trial attorneys.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against 15 defendants tied to alleged Medicaid fraud schemes with over $90 million in intended loss. The press release described the case as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to prosecute health care fraud that drains taxpayer resources and can also fuel wider identity and financial crimes. DOJ also said it is expanding its Health Care Fraud Section to investigate Medicaid fraud nationwide, including adding trial attorney positions, signaling continued emphasis on Medicaid enforcement. While the announcement did not frame a single universal mechanism, it described multiple alleged fraud approaches involving Medicaid providers and child care-related entities. In many Medicaid fraud matters, schemes may involve misrepresenting eligibility, improperly billing for services, or manipulating documentation tied to claims. Here, DOJ’s description emphasized coordinated conduct across different roles and organizations, including child-care-related entities connected to the claimed Medicaid-related activity. The scale—intended loss exceeding $90 million—suggests the alleged conduct was structured, sustained, and capable of generating significant fraudulent payments. For targeted industries and potential victims, the case reinforces that government benefit programs remain a high-priority focus for criminal investigation, and that multi-entity schemes can draw broad charging decisions once evidence is assembled and reviewed by prosecutors.