October 7, 2009

Miami Clinic Operators Convicted in HIV Medical Claims Fraud Case

Two Miami clinic operators, Scarlet Duarte and Rechart Garcia, were convicted of $51 million in medical claims fraud for falsely reporting treatment of Medicare beneficiaries with HIV, reports the South Florida Business Journal.

According to the article, Duarte and Garci paid Medicare recipients to pretend they received treatment and then later billed Medicare for these medically unnecessary procedures. This practice occurred at six clinics in Miami-Dade, Collier and Lee counties.

Previously, 15 others were convicted of similar charges—fraud and money laundering—at the same six clinics.

Medicare paid about $21.1 million of the $51.8 million in false claims.

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Previous Comments:

R.L Arocha, Mulberry Arkansas, 2009-10-08 16:51:47
People are losing there bennifets all over the country and people like that are trying to screw the government for money that can be used to make sure people who truly need the help can recieve it. I can never understand people who do those types of things. I hope those two people get the book thrown at them and never see the light of day again.

john, minneapolis, 2009-10-08 16:15:12
I don't know what penalty would be adequate for this behavior. But these and those receipients that signed for the false care should be sent away for a very, very long time. I think we just found a way to help pay for this Obama care, if they would only look under a few more rocks.

Phil Ramsey, Panama City, 2009-10-08 10:12:15
People with HIV are struggling to make ends meet and these fools cheating the government and the people. They need to be put in jail for life!