Dozens charged nationwide in $100M Medicare scam

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors in New York City say dozens of people are charged in a $100 million international Medicare fraud scam.

FBI agents arrested some of the suspects Wednesday in New York City and Los Angeles. Authorities say some have links to an Armenian organized crime group and sent their ill-gotten proceeds overseas.

The suspects allegedly stole the identities of both doctors and patients, and set up phantom clinics and bank accounts. Authorities say they used the names to submit about $100 million in bills, and got back more than $35 million from Medicare.

The scheme involved over 100 fake health care providers in about 25 states.