Reuters reports that a two week long anti-fraud sweep involving roughly 400 law enforcement agents has resulted in charges against 91 individuals, including doctors and nurses, for alleged participation in Medicare fraud. On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning alone, 70 of those individuals were arrested.

Court documents describe how the defendants submitted claims to Medicare for treatments they didn't provide or which were medically unnecessary. Not surprisingly, nearly half of the defendants involved were charged in Miami, which is known among law enforcement experts as the health care fraud capital of the United States.

The anti-fraud sweep, operated by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, took place in eight U.S. cities, including Miami, Houston, Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, and Chicago. In Miami alone, almost $160 million in false bills were submitted for home and mental health services, as well as occupational and physical therapy, and HIV infusion services, among others.

Ten of the defendants were charged in Baton Rouge, six in Los Angeles, three in Brooklyn, two in both Houston and Dallas, 18 in Detroit and four in Chicago.

According to Attorney General Eric Holder, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and FBI Executive Assistant Director Shawn Henry, the individuals collectively submitted around $295 in false bills. The charges were announced in Washington on Wednesday.

The health care fraud sweep was reportedly the largest in the history of the Medicare fraud strike force. The strike force operations began back in 2007 under the Bush administration. Sources said the strike force operates in nine locations nationwide and that 1,100 fraudsters have been charged as a result of its efforts.

Source: Reuters, "U.S. says 91 charged over $295 million in Medicare fraud," Sep. 7, 2011.