Federal fraud probes recoups $4.3 billion

(Bloomberg) — The federal government recovered $4.3 billion from people and companies that tried to defraud health care programs in fiscal year 2013, up from $4.1 billion in fiscal 2012.

Officials at the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the government recovered $8.10 for every dollar spent on health care fraud inquiries.

The 2013 recoveries came from criminal, civil and administrative judgments, and also from settlements.

Officials included the recovery figures in an annual Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program report that was released this morning.

Fiscal 2013 ended Sept. 30.

The Justice Department opened 1,013 new health care fraud criminal investigations in fiscal 2013, and those cases involved about 2,000 suspects.

The department obtained about 700 health care fraud convictions.