The federal government has recently stepped up efforts to crack down on Medicare fraud, particularly in such "fraud hot spots" as Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Detroit, Chicago, Brooklyn, Tampa and Baton Rouge. As reported by the Associated Press:

"Federal authorities [recently] charged more than 100 doctors, nurses and physical therapists in nine cities with Medicare fraud Thursday, part of a massive nationwide bust that snared more suspects than any other in history."

Although small in terms of absolute population figures, Guam is a significant consumer of Medicare funded medical care. As such, and given the aggressive enforcement posture espoused by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder, it is perhaps just a matter of time before the federal government undertakes a similar investigation on our island.