New York Scammers Allegedly Steal $120,000,000 From Medicare and Medicaid, Paying Elderly Patients To Fuel Scheme

Two men from New York are accused of running a healthcare scheme that defrauded Medicare and Medicaid out of more than $100 million.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) says it’s charging two men from Queens with masterminding a scam that stole $120 million from Medicare and Medicaid by submitting bogus claims.

Authorities say Inwoo Kim and Daniel Lee conspired to use Kim’s businesses – a pharmacy and two social adult daycare centers – to pay illegal bribes and kickbacks to elderly Medicaid patients and Medicare beneficiaries.

The pair allegedly convinced the seniors to file unneeded prescriptions at Kim’s pharmacy and enroll in medically unnecessary services at his daycare centers, then billed Medicare and Medicaid for the care that was supposedly provided.

Says Acting Medicaid Inspector Frank T. Walsh Jr.,

“Medicaid fraud threatens the health and safety of beneficiaries, wastes taxpayer dollars, and drains essential resources from the health care delivery system.

This joint effort sends a clear message that the Empire State is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the Medicaid program, hold wrong doers fully accountable, and preserve precious health care resources.”

Both Kim and Lee have been charged with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.

If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison each.

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