Fake Doctor Orders, Prescriptions: $1M Florida Medicare Fraud Conviction
Summary
A healthcare business owner named Brett Blackman was convicted for leading a Medicare fraud scheme in Florida that involved fake doctor orders and unnecessary medical supplies. The scheme, which operated from 2015 to 2020, resulted in over $1 million stolen from Medicare and could lead to Blackman facing up to 30 years in prison.Key Facts
- Brett Blackman was found guilty of healthcare fraud and wire fraud related to a Medicare scam in Florida.
- The scheme targeted hundreds of thousands of Medicare patients, especially in Florida.
- It involved fake doctors’ orders for orthotic braces and other medical items that were not medically needed.
- Medical companies used an online platform to create fake orders without proper patient examinations.
- The fraud operated mainly through telemarketing and ads that tricked patients into sharing personal information.
- False claims submitted to Medicare totaled nearly $2 billion, with over $639 million paid out.
- Blackman’s co-conspirator, Gary Cox, was sentenced to 15 years for his role.
- The Justice Department described the fraud as large-scale theft targeting vulnerable elderly and sick patients.
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