Feds Busted 1,600 Medicaid Frauds Stealing $1.9B in 2016

Nearly 1,600 people were caught stealing $1.9 billion from Medicaid in 2016, a government watchdog reported Monday.

The state-run Medicaid Fraud Control Units investigated and prosecuted the cases; the Department of Health and Human Development's Inspector General reported the findings.

According to the Office of Special Investigator, California had the most convictions, with 173, followed by Ohio with 126.

The Daily Caller reported investigators in New York recovered more funds than any other state at nearly $229 million; Florida was second with nearly $166 million recovered.

New York's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is also the largest staffed – with 298 staffers; California, the second largest unit, has 185 staff, the Daily Caller reported.

"MFCU's play a critical role in protecting the taxpayers  and the residents of healthcare institutions," IG Special Agent Shimon Richmond said in a podcast.

The IG director of the units, Richard Stern, added: "MFCU's investigate, and prosecute, patient abuse or neglect in nursing homes, and hospitals, as well as in assisted living facilities" in addition to fighting fraud.