Three physicians and three healthcare executives have been charged with participating in a $33 million healthcare fraud scheme, according to the Department of Justice.
The government alleges the defendants paid kickbacks to elderly and financially disadvantaged patients who were insured by Medicare and/or Medicaid. The government further alleges the defendants billed Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary services, tests and supplies provided to the illegally paid patients. The physicians charged in the scheme were also paid to provide prescriptions and referrals for medically unnecessary supplies, according to the DOJ.
The defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly used eight medical clinics in New York City to operate the fraud scheme.
The six defendants are each charged with conspiring to commit fraud; conspiring to make false statements related to a federal healthcare program; mail fraud; wire fraud; and healthcare fraud. The three executives are also charged with conspiring to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute.
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