health care fraud representation | The Health Law Firm Blog

Florida Man Pleads Guilty To $36.2 Million Telehealth Medicare Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On March 20th, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in the Middle District of Florida, announced that a Florida man pled guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud in a $36.2 million telemedicine fraud scheme. As part of the scheme, the Fort Lauderdale-based pharmacy owner paid kickbacks and bribes to telemarketers and telemedicine providers for medically unnecessary prescriptions that were billed to Medicare.

Kickbacks & Bribes to Telemarketing Companies.

According to the plea agreement, the Fort Lauderdale-based, Florida man and his co-conspirators owned and operated pharmacies participating in the Medicare program. From September 2018 through November 2021, they […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-04-08T13:53:56-04:00May 8, 2024|Nursing Law Blog|

Florida Man Pleads Guilty To $36.2 Million Telehealth Medicare Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On March 20th, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in the Middle District of Florida, announced that a Florida man pled guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud in a $36.2 million telemedicine fraud scheme. As part of the scheme, the Fort Lauderdale-based pharmacy owner paid kickbacks and bribes to telemarketers and telemedicine providers for medically unnecessary prescriptions that were billed to Medicare.

Kickbacks & Bribes to Telemarketing Companies.

According to the plea agreement, the Fort Lauderdale-based, Florida man and his co-conspirators owned and operated pharmacies participating in the Medicare program. […]

Florida Man Pleads Guilty To $36.2 Million Telehealth Medicare Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On March 20th, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in the Middle District of Florida, announced that a Florida man pled guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud in a $36.2 million telemedicine fraud scheme. As part of the scheme, the Fort Lauderdale-based pharmacy owner paid kickbacks and bribes to telemarketers and telemedicine providers for medically unnecessary prescriptions that were billed to Medicare.

Kickbacks & Bribes to Telemarketing Companies.

According to the plea agreement, the Fort Lauderdale-based, Florida man and his co-conspirators owned and operated pharmacies participating in the Medicare program. From September 2018 through November 2021, they […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-04-08T13:33:43-04:00April 8, 2024|The Health Law Firm Blog|

What You Need to Know Right Now If the DEA is Knocking on Your Door!

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) knocking at your door or, even worse, going through your files inside your office?

If so, this is what you need to know right now!

YES, you do have the right to call your attorney. Call your attorney right now. If you cannot, ask one of your employees or spouse to call your attorney. Get your attorney involved right now!

NO, do not sign a document to relinquish or voluntarily give up your DEA registration number. If you do so, this will probably be the biggest mistake you make in […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T20:00:41-04:00March 16, 2024|Medical Education Law Blog, Nursing Law Blog|

Is the DEA Knocking on Your Door? What You Need to Know Right Now!

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) knocking at your door or, even worse, going through your files inside your office?

This is what you need to know right now!

YES, you do have the right to call your attorney. Call your attorney right now. If you cannot, ask one of your employees or spouse to call your attorney. Get your attorney involved right now!

NO, do not sign a document to relinquish or voluntarily give up your DEA registration number. If you do so, this will probably be the biggest mistake you make of your life.

NO, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:11-04:00March 2, 2024|Pharmacy Law Blog|

Florida Pharmacy Owner Pleads Guilty For Role in $8.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On September 27, 2022, a Florida pharmacy owner pled guilty to conspiring to commit healthcare fraud in an $8.3 million scheme. The scheme involved securing orders for medically unnecessary prescriptions billed to Medicare and paying bribes and kickbacks, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced. Read the DOJ’s press release here. Read the DOJ’s press release here.

The Fraudulent Scheme.

Michael Murphy allegedly invested in Cure Pharmacy in Jacksonville, Florida, and two other pharmacies participated in the Medicare program. From around November 2019 through March 2021, the government alleged, Murphy and his co-conspirators paid kickbacks and […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:13-04:00January 13, 2024|Pharmacy Law Blog|

Are You the Target of a Medicaid Audit? Tips Health Professionals Should Be Following

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), and Bureau of Medicaid Program Integrity is the Florida agency responsible for routine Medicaid audits The agency ensures that the Medicaid program was billed correctly for services by health care professionals. Those receiving the greatest amounts of Medicaid payments are also the ones most likely to be audited.

These include pediatricians, Ob/Gyns, family practice physicians, and dentists. The Medicaid audit usually requests information in a questionnaire form. It also includes a request for […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:17-04:00November 18, 2023|Health Facilities Law Blog|

Florida Pharmacist Gets More Than Six Years in Prison For Role in Compounding Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On November 29, 2018, a Florida pharmacist was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and ordered to pay $3.4 million, for her role in a scheme to defraud the government. Marjorie Robinson pled guilty one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for submitting fraudulent claims to Tricare, Medicare and private insurance programs for compounded creams that were not necessary.

The Fraud Scheme.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Robinson was one of three owners of ASC Pharmacy Inc., a now defunct compounding pharmacy in Miami. Under […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:19-04:00December 26, 2018|Pharmacy Law Blog|

New Update to the Medicare Program Integrity Manual Issued by CMS

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On June 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued further guidance for reporting and reviewing final adverse legal actions (ALAs) in provider enrollment applications. Section 15.5.3 of the Medicare Program Integrity Manual (MPIM) was updated through Transmittal 797 to provide more guidance on the types of final adverse actions that must be disclosed. It also provides additional instruction to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) on how to process disclosed final adverse actions.

New Language Basics.

The update in Section 15.5.3 of the MPIM clarifies the scope of disclosure, the time frames for disclosure and the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:23-04:00September 7, 2018|Health Facilities Law Blog|

Texas Doctor Charged With Faking Diagnoses in $240 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On May 14, 2018, a Texas doctor was arrested on charges he led a $240 million health care fraud and money laundering scheme. He allegedly falsely diagnosed at least 16 patients with degenerative diseases and gave them unneeded chemotherapy and other treatments.

Fake Diagnoses and Treatments.

The doctor allegedly bilked Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, Blue Cross Blue Shield and others through a scheme in which he would falsely diagnose patients with diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. According to the indictment, he would then give them treatments […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:24-04:00July 5, 2018|The Health Law Firm Blog|