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2022 Opioid Enforcement Action

Media Contact


media@oig.hhs.gov
202-619-0088

The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), along with our State and Federal law enforcement partners, announced a nationwide law enforcement action on May 4, 2022. 14 defendants, including 12 medical professionals, were charged for their alleged participation in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. The charges involve 5.1 million pills and roughly $7 million in opioid-related fraud loss, in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, New Jersey, and West Virginia.

Addressing the opioid epidemic and preventing patient harm remains a top priority for HHS-OIG. This effort demonstrates the positive impact of the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force and deters those hoping to defraud HHS programs—sending a strong signal that theft from taxpayer-funded programs will not be tolerated, and that providers who exploit patient addiction for personal gain will be held accountable.

Additional Resources

Last updated May 19, 2022