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Data: U.S. Department of Justice; Chart: Naema Ahmed/Axios

Since 1987, health care companies have paid almost $39 billion to the Department of Justice to settle various allegations of fraud. The amounts have increased steadily over time, and the vast majority of settlements come from whistleblower cases, where employees inside health care companies report alleged wrongdoing and get a cut of the deal.

Go deeper: The big business of health care fraud

Health care is a ripe target for federal fraud claims

Health care fraud settlements have totaled $39 billion since 1987.

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Health care settlements

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Health care costs

Since 1987, health care companies have paid almost $39 billion to the Department of Justice to settle various allegations of fraud. The amounts have increased steadily over time, and the vast majority of settlements come from whistleblower cases, where employees inside health care companies report alleged wrongdoing and get a cut of the deal.Go deeper: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The big business of health care fraud" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/justice-department-health-care-fraud-2018-25a64f5c-a040-459d-97cf-8f2a8f6a8b60.html" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/justice-department-health-care-fraud-2018-25a64f5c-a040-459d-97cf-8f2a8f6a8b60.html" target="_self">The big business of health care fraud</a>

The U.S. faces a range of health care flashpoints — unaffordable drugs, opioids, vaping — as we debate whether to adopt universal care. For now, the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land, but Republicans want to issue it a final death blow.