Twelve people are facing federal charges in southern Illinois as part of a national crackdown on health care fraud.
Eleven are home health caregivers who charged Medicaid for services they didn't provide. The twelfth colluded with a caregiver.
U.S. Attorney Stephen Wigginton says this crime hurts people with disabilities who don't receive the care the assistant is billing for, as well as those who don't get the care they need because there's not enough money left in the system.
"Every dollar taken by one of these individuals who are ripping off the system is a dollar taken away from somebody who really deserves it."
The U.S. District of southern Illinois has charged 55 people for home health care fraud since 2012.
Punishment ranges from probation to four years in prison.
Those who are convicted also can be barred from working health care jobs in the future.
