The Real Questions About The Medicaid Scheme
What is the truth behind the health care bust that we are learning about? We’re told that the bust was massive. $14.6 billion of intended losses. We’re told that the operation was a coordinated effort between the FBI, DOJ, HHS, and the DEA. If that’s true, it’s a miracle in itself that they even spoke to one another, far less planned and executed this operation.
We’re also told that approximately 324 people, including 96 doctors, were involved in the health care fraud. In addition, according to the DOJ, the defendants include licensed medical professionals, business owners, and alleged members of transnational criminal organizations. The scheme spanned across all 50 states, resulting in law enforcement seizing over $245 million in cash, cryptocurrency, and luxury vehicles, among other assets.
According to the Washington Examiner:
“Just in Arizona, a United Arab Emirates-based billing company had allegedly defrauded Medicaid of $650 million, and the company targeted Native American and homeless patients for addiction treatment scams.”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement:
“This record-setting health care fraud takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers. Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino also described the bust as the “largest healthcare fraud investigation, as measured by financial losses, in DOJ history.”
Matthew Galeotti, Head of the Criminal Division at the DOJ, said:
“These criminals didn’t just steal someone else’s money. They stole from you. Every fraudulent claim, every fake billing, every kickback scheme represents money taken directly from the pockets of American taxpayers who fund these essential programs through their hard work and sacrifice.”
The allegations include fraudulent wound care, meaning patients received unnecessary treatments, prescription opioid trafficking involving substances like fentanyl, and various telemedicine and genetic testing fraud schemes.
The department charged 170 individuals, marking the largest group ever, with fraudulently billing Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary diagnostic tests, medical visits, and treatments provided in exchange for kickbacks and bribes.
FBI Director Kash Patel said:
“Health care fraud drains critical resources from programs intended to help people who truly need medical care. Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to pursuing those who exploit the system for personal gain. With more than $13 billion in fraud uncovered, this is the largest takedown for this initiative to date.”
In the reported scheme of $14.6 billion, $10.6 billion was attributed to fraudulent Medicare claims involving the stolen identities of more than one million Americans.
Buffalo-based doctor Joel Durinka has been accused of creating and maintaining fake medical records and billing Medicare $5.6 million for audio-only telehealth visits that were either extremely brief or did not occur at all. Additionally, he allegedly submitted $29.6 million in fraudulent orders for body braces, according to the Department of Justice.
The federal government has seized $324,683 from Durinka. If he is convicted, his medical license will likely be revoked. He is one of 96 medical professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, and nurses, who have been charged with committing fraud.
According to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGicomo:
“Telemedicine changed the playing field. It’s difficult to substantiate these cases; it often takes a long period of time … there are more nuanced layers. These cases do not happen without the doctor. Because at the end of the day, the doctor is the one who signs the prescription form. We believe the doctors are one of the most culpable in this because without their prescription, nothing happens.”
In light of the recently uncovered massive fraud scheme, Mehmet Oz, the Administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, announced that the federal government will establish a “fraud war room.” This initiative will use AI tools and other methods to detect fraud before releasing public funds.
“We’re stopping stolen taxpayer money from leaving the door. These are organized syndicates who are designing to hurt America.”
The large number of charges filed against individuals for healthcare fraud during President Donald Trump’s administration represents a significant increase in efforts to combat the theft of public healthcare funds. In contrast, the Biden administration uncovered $2.75 billion in fraudulent claims last year.
When I hear about a bust of this size, the questions I ask myself are why now, why not sooner, and is this just the tip of an iceberg that we’re never going to see?
We all know that Medicare and Medicaid fraud is widespread. While a $14.6 billion bust is impressive, it makes me wonder how much fraud has occurred in the past and continues to happen today. Like anyone else, I’m pleased to see these criminals taken out of circulation, but I can’t shake the feeling that someone left the door slightly open for these issues to be exposed. It’s like tossing a dog a bone—granted, it’s a big bone, but it’s still just a bone.
Then again, maybe my tinfoil hat is just too tight.
