The Department of Justice announced on May 1 a new multi-jurisdictional enforcement initiative targeting health care fraud in Northern California, Arizona, and Nevada. The West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force will deploy at least 10 additional federal prosecutors to the region.

This initiative follows the DOJ’s existing Health Care Fraud Strike Force model, which has prosecuted more than 6,200 defendants for fraudulent billing to federal health care programs and private insurers totaling over $45 billion. The new operation addresses a “significant and accelerating increase” in fraud across the three districts, including digital health technology executives in Northern California, Medicaid and sober-home schemes in Arizona, and wound-care fraud operations that have submitted claims exceeding tens of millions of dollars.

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald warned that individuals who steal from taxpayers should expect federal prison. During a “fraud week” initiative in May, federal prosecutors secured convictions in cases involving:
– A California wound-care clinic accused of $46.6 million in fraudulent claims
– A Michigan pharmacy technician convicted of a $5.6 million health care fraud scheme
– A Johnston County Social Services caseworker sentenced for stealing over $100,000 in SNAP benefits

The West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force operates under President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance, and will coordinate with the HHS-OIG, FBI, and DEA. The initiative targets fraud in medical offices, street-level schemes, and corporate environments across all three states.

FBI San Francisco field office confirmed participation in the operation.