TEXAS – In a nationwide takedown, 12 people from Houston have been arrested in the largest health care fraud action in U.S. history, according to the Texas Attorney General’s office.

A total of 601 people were arrested in the schemes involving the defrauding of $2 billion from Medicare and Medicaid across the country. The hundreds of people are believed to have billed private insurance for unnecessary medical services and prescription drugs.

The arrestees range from nurses to doctors and other licensed medical professionals.   

Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit worked alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office.

“I’m proud of the part our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit played in this historic effort against health care fraud,” Paxton said. “Medicaid fraud steals taxpayer money and jeopardizes care for some of Texas’ most vulnerable citizens. My office will continue to fight for the integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs to ensure Texans’ tax dollars are not stolen by criminals.”

The Houston cases will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.