A statewide task force has been formed to combat health care fraud, the state's U.S. Attorneys announced.

The group, which held its first meeting Tuesday in Frankfort, includes representatives of local, state and federal agencies, as well as private health insurers. They will share information, identify trends and discuss investigations, according to a news release.

An estimated $68 billion a year is taken from the nation's health care industry through fraud, which contributes to the rising cost of health care.

"We want taxpayer dollars to be spent for honest and adequate health care services," Kerry Harvey, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, said in the release. "Through this team effort we will expand our collaborative fight and strive to create a deterrent to commit health care fraud."

U.S. Attorneys have the authority to prosecute fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.