The DME companies allegedly paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain referral of Medicare beneficiaries from medical professionals working with fraudulent telemedicine companies for orthopedic braces. The companies shipped the orthopedic braces to patients and billed Medicare between $500 and $900 per brace.
DOJ will not tolerate those who attempt to cheat the Medicare system
In a statement, Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski, said, “These defendants — who range from corporate executives to medical professionals — allegedly participated in an expansive and sophisticated fraud to exploit telemedicine technology meant for patients otherwise unable to access health care.”
He emphasized that the DOJ will “note tolerate medical professionals and executives who look to line their pockets by cheating heath care programs.”
On the other hand, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito of the District of New Jersey said they indicted the defendants for “running a complex, multilayered scheme to defraud our Medicare system and avoid detection by government regulators.”
