Tallahassee, Fla.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida
has filed 23 False Claims Act lawsuits against clinics and DME
companies, alleging some $30 million in fraudulent Medicare
claims.
The lawsuits are the latest move in “Operation Equity
Excise,” an anti-fraud effort by the U.S. Attorney's Office,
the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI in southern
Florida.
“Operation Equity Excise has already recovered more than
$10 million in fraudulently paid health care claims,” said
U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta. “Through the 23 lawsuits …
we hope to recover an additional $30 million.”
Government officials said they recovered $10.5 million in
fraudulent Medicare funds that were lodged in bank accounts. Many
had been set up by nominee owners of clinics or DME companies that
were engaged in Medicare fraud, officials said.
In some cases, the companies had abruptly closed and abandoned
the bank accounts. In other instances, the signatories on the
accounts denied any knowledge of the companies and any claim to the
accounts.
When federal agents could not locate anyone who admitted any
responsibility for the bank accounts or operation of the
businesses, investigation of those companies resulted in the
lawsuits.
