In response to a letter dated December 17, 2010, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have outlined statistics associated with health care fraud prosecutions.  In the letter, dated January 24, 2011, DOJ and HHS detail criminal and civil prosecutions for health care fraud.  Among the highlights:

• As of January 4, 2011, there were 1,341 FCA cases under seal. Of those, 885 cases allege health care fraud. Of those 180 involve pharmaceutical pricing or marketing, and 80 cases involve hospitals.
• Since the end of fiscal year 2006 (October 1, 2006) DOJ has resolved 716 cases (541 in qui tam cases and 175 in direct actions). In addition, 1,244 qui tam cases have been declined. The average length of time a case is under seal is 13 months (during the same period of time).
• DOJ has intervened in 22.20 percent of qui tam cases in the past five years.