After years of threats, the Office of Inspector General and other federal health program regulators and intermediaries fueled by Deficit Reduction Act mandates have health care providers in their sights and are hunting health care fraud with a vengeance.  During the first half of 2008, OIG stepped audit and enforcement initiatives resulted in a host of criminal and civil convictions and settlements and the announcement of a host of other audits targeting virtually all types of health care providers, suppliers, and other Medicare and Medicaid program participants.  With Congress already relying upon recoveries from these and other health care fraud enforcement inititives, health care providers participating in Medicare, Medicaid or other federal health programs must be prepared to defend their conduct against ever tightening rules and scrutiny.  Attorney and author Cynthia Marcotte Stamer will discuss these initiatives and present strategies that may help health care providers armor themselves against the upcoming siege.