Breaking News 31 charged in Baton Rouge in Medicare bus

Federal authorities say 31 people have been charged in Baton Rouge in connection with the largest Medicare fraud bust ever. The Justice Department says the Baton Rouge indictment alleges fraudulent claims involving about $32 million in home health care equipment charges. The defendants include the owners and operators of nine medical services companies and four doctors. Of the four doctors, Steve Jase, Delia Kirkpatrick and Joanne Frances practice in Baton Rouge. "They get data that comes from all over the country dealing with the Medicare claims," said U.S. Attorney Middle District of Louisiana Don Cazayoux. "They find hotspots of fraud basically, and that's what they found in Baton Rouge was a hot spot for fraudulent activity…based on the data." Prosecutors also charged 14 people with recruiting patients for the alleged scheme and others who worked at the companies. Nationally, 94 people have been indicted in Baton Rouge, Miami, New York City, Detroit and Houston. Federal investigators say they are in the process of serving five more warrants.