111 charged in Medicare scams worth $225 million

MIAMI (AP) — Federal authorities have charged more than 100 doctors, nurses and physical therapists in nine cities with Medicare fraud as part of a massive bust.

More than 700 law enforcement agents fanned out to arrest 111 people accused of illegally billing Medicare more than $225 million.

The arrests are the latest in a string of major busts in the past two years as authorities have struggled to pare the fraud that's believed to cost the government between $60 billion and $90 billion each year.

Stopping Medicare's budget from hemorrhaging that money will be key to paying for President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

Authorities say the scams included billing for toenail removals that were unnecessary and hemorrhoid removals that were never performed.