Ten of the 14 people allegedly involved in a $42.7 million health insurance fraud scheme in Florida have been arrested, according to the News-Press.
Between 2015 and 2018, the suspects allegedly set up fake clinics across Florida and used more than 20 physicians' stolen identities to submit nearly 24,000 fraudulent claims to insurers for services that were never provided. Insurers mailed payments to the 15 "phantom clinics," but no care was provided at the facilities.
"Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime, and fraud like this drives up insurance costs for every Floridian," Florida's CFO Jimmy Patronis said at a news conference Feb. 6, according to WCTV. "Stolen identities, fake clinics and stealing $42 million — this was an elaborate fraud scheme and ultimately consumers are on the losing end."
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