The Department of Justice last week announced criminal charges against 138 doctors, nurses and licenced medical professionals for their alleged involvement in fraud schemes worth around US$1.4 billion.
Authorities accused 43 suspects from 31 federal districts of causing $1.1 billion of that loss through fraudulent claims in telemedicine — medical services offered online. The rest involved “sober homes”, COVID-19 related fraud and opioid distribution schemes.
Court documents show that some telemedicine executives paid doctors and nurses to order unnecessary medical equipment and pain medications often after interacting with patients only briefly over the phone or not at all. The companies then submitted false claims to government insurers.
Court documents show that some telemedicine executives paid doctors and nurses to order unnecessary medical equipment and pain medications often after interacting with patients only briefly over the phone or not at all. The companies then submitted false claims to government insurers.