Miami Doctor Indicted In A Medicare Fraud Scheme
Miami doctor, Dr. Roberto A. Fernandez, is finding himself in a huge Medicare fraud mess. Fernandez was arrested on March 22 and is now facing 16 counts of charges.
According to the Miami Herald, the Justice Department said Fernandez’s fraud scheme includes at least six healthcare facilities, at least three different drugs illegally distributed, and $20 million in allegedly fraudulent expenses.
It’s been reported that some of Fernandez’s employees are already in federal prison on conspiract to commit healthcare fraud charges. Those employees include Niurka Fernandez, 10 years; Arturo Alberto Oms for eight years’ Jesus Diaz for nine years’ and Jorge Caballero for three years, four months.
Fernandez’s charges look a little something like this: one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud; 11 counts of healthcare fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive healthcare bribes and kickbacks; one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; and two counts of distribution of controlled substances.
This is how Fernandez and his supposed employees all tie together: Fernandez owned the Coral Gables-based Latin Foundation for Health and also worked at a number of local medical facilities. Niurka Fernandez owned part of Calan Pharmacy and Elite Home Services. Oms was also an owner of Calan while Diaz owned Star Light Health Care Agency.
Fernandez is accused being paid to write prescriptions for home health services and medications. He is also being charged for helping move anxiety drug Alprazolam as well as medications like Oxycodone and Hydrocodone.
