US says it has halted healthcare fraud schemes worth nearly $15bn

Justice department charges 324 defendants in largest healthcare fraud initiative in its history

The US justice department said on Monday that it halted a series of healthcare fraud schemes that sought to bilk the federal government out of $14.6bn.

The operation, which the department called the largest healthcare fraud initiative in its history, led to criminal charges against 324 defendants and the seizure of more than $245m in cash, luxury cars and other assets. The actual loss to the US government totaled about $2.9bn, officials said.

Guardian staff contributed