DOJ Strengthens Corporate Fraud Enforcement, With Healthcare Fraud Among Its Priorities

On October 1, 2026, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Fraud Enforcement Division (Division) issued a directive outlining how it will investigate and prosecute corporate fraud, building on the Division’s August 2026 announcement identifying the DOJ’s enforcement priorities. Healthcare remains a central focus of the DOJ’s fraud enforcement activities, including Medicare and Medicaid fraud, telemedicine schemes, illegal distribution of controlled substances, home health and hospice fraud, and the deceptive marketing of unsafe healthcare products and services. The October directive establishes a more centralized approach to corporate investigations by requiring prosecutors to coordinate with the Division’s Corporate Enforcement Section throughout investigations and prosecutions. The directive also advises prosecutors to prioritize specified categories of fraud and give significant weight to factors such as management’s knowledge of or involvement in misconduct, efforts to conceal fraud, harm to government-funded programs, schemes lasting three years or more, and losses of at least $25 million or harm to 25 or more victims. In addition, the directive calls for the development of policies and programs to incentivize whistleblowers to report credible information about fraud, including individuals who participated in the misconduct.