In December 2006, in recognition of his remarkable success in health care fraud cases, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Michael A. Hirst of Hirst & Chanler LLP with the Inspector General’s Integrity Award for “unwavering support and resolute prosecution of Health Care Fraud.”  The award is the highest distinction given by the federal agency to non-HHS employees.  It was signed by Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson and presented at Hirst & Chanler’s Sacramento office by Sarah Allen, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Health and Human Services, and Richard Gwin, Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigative Service.