FBI New Orleans Division
HEALTH CARE FRAUD: The New Orleans Division has recognized Health Care Fraud (HCF) as the second most significant white collar crime problem in the White Collar Crime Program. The State of Louisiana ranks first in the average Medicare reimbursements per patient. Louisiana health care providers also have the highest average of visits per Medicare patient per year.
In the area of skilled nursing facilities, Louisiana is the highest in the nation. The average cost per day is $162. Louisiana is $292, higher than New York City. For rehabilitation services, the national cost per patient is $1800. Louisiana’s is $3600.
Based upon Louisiana's home health care agency and skilled nursing facility crisis, The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Postal Service have begun joint investigations into these two areas.
The New Orleans Division is also conducting joint investigations in the areas of medical transportation companies, medical clinics, chiropractic clinics, and durable medical equipment companies. Individual physicians have also been identified who are involved in billing Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance carriers for treatment not provided or treatment not covered.
ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES: The State of Louisiana has experienced a significant problem regarding pollution, the handling of hazardous waste, and waste disposal. The ecological structure of the New Orleans area contains numerous waterways and wetlands, which cover a vast portion of the state, these areas have been utilized to dispose of various types of pollutants in violation of the Clean Water Act. These problems have been exasperated by the great concentration of various industries throughout the state.
FRAUD AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT: The crime problem identified involves program fraud. In 1995, Louisiana received approximately $22.5 billion in federal funds, ranking Louisiana 23rd amongst the fifty states. The funding received by Louisiana is used to fund various programs at the state and local levels. These programs are funded by such agencies as the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Education (DOED), Department of Defense (DOD), and others. The DOD and HUD have been identified as those agencies where the greatest amount of fraud and abuse occurs.
Contact 504-816-3000 or by fax 504-816-3306 with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: June 6, 2005