Justice Department Expands Health Care Fraud Strike Force to Philadelphia

The Justice Department revealed on Tuesday its plan to expand the Northeast Health Care Fraud Strike Force to include Philadelphia. This initiative focuses on tackling alleged Medicare and Medicaid fraud, specifically in home health care services.

The new strike force office will operate within the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. It will combine efforts from the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The department stated, “The Fraud Division’s expansion into the Eastern District of Pennsylvania brings enhanced federal resources to a district with an established tradition of strong health care fraud enforcement.”

Alongside this announcement, federal and Pennsylvania officials charged 19 individuals. These cases involve over $4 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid. The accused include company owners, employees, aides, and Medicaid recipients. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday revealed a plea deal related to a previously charged case involving $1.7 million in claims.

The Justice Department emphasizes that this partnership will better equip law enforcement to deal with corporate-level fraud. Various cases highlight fraudulent activities, such as billing while incarcerated or falsely reporting working hours.

The Northeast Strike Force’s mission involves collaboration with agencies like the HHS Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and the DEA.

The department assures that the new Philadelphia office will leverage every legal option to address American healthcare fraud. President Donald Trump has criticized federal healthcare fraud in light of past scandals.

This expansion aligns with recent growth of the strike force program in regions like California, Arizona, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. Notably, significant national health care fraud enforcement actions claimed alleged losses of over $15 billion in 2025 and more than $6 billion in 2026.

Alexandria Hoff reports from the Washington, D.C. office for Fox News Channel. She joined the team in September 2021.