New York Doctor Indicted for $20.7 Million in Medicare Fraud and Kickback Scheme
On February 21, 2024, a federal grand jury in New Jersey indicted Dr. Alexander Baldonado, of Queens, New York, for his alleged involvement in a complex health care fraud and illegal kickback scheme. According to the DOJ press release, this scheme involved the submission of over $20.7 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, primarily for medically unnecessary genetic cancer screening and Covid-19 testing that patients neither requested nor received. The DOJ also accused Dr. Baldonado of accepting cash kickbacks in exchange for authorizing lab tests and ordering unnecessary durable medical equipment, along with billing Medicare for office visits that never took place.
Dr. Alexander Baldonado faces one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, six counts of health care fraud, two counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States and engage in illegal kickback activities, and one count of soliciting health care kickbacks. The potential penalties include a maximum of 10 years in prison for each count related to health care fraud and soliciting kickbacks, and up to five years for each count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
This case is part of the broader efforts by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Initiated in March 2007, the program now encompasses nine strike forces across 27 federal districts and has charged over 5,400 defendants who have collectively billed federal health programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in collaboration with HHS-OIG, are also taking measures to address the involvement of providers in health care fraud schemes.
If you would like more information on what it means to be a whistleblower or think you may have information relating to healthcare fraud or any other kind of government contract fraud, please feel free to contact us so we can connect you with a member of the Constantine Cannon whistleblower lawyer team for a free and confidential consultation.
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Tagged in: FCA Federal, Government Programs Fraud, Healthcare Fraud, Laboratory and IDTF, Lack of Medical Necessity, Medical Billing Fraud, Medical Devices and DME, Medicare, Provider Fraud, Reporting to Government,