U.S. federal prosecutors accuse 11 people on Friday of a plan based in Russia Medicare – The U.S. Health Insurance Program for Seniors and Disabled – Through $10.6 billion in fraudulent bills for expensive medical devices.
According to the June 18 indictment, the Transnational Crime Organisation orchestrated a “billion-dollar health care fraud and money laundering program” that included buying dozens of medical equipment companies from previous legal owners to commit fraud.
Prosecutors said in filings that more than one million medical insurance recipients had stolen personal information and were used by the defendants to apply for billions of dollars in health insurance and its supplementary insurance companies’ claims.
These claims were made through the medical equipment provider purchased by the group, but no equipment was sent to pay.
Prosecutors wrote that Medicare paid “about $41 million due to fraudulent submissions” and that supplementary insurers have estimated to have paid $900 million between 2022 and 2024.
The program was organized by Imam Nakhmatullaev RussiaOfficials said and managed other defendants in Estonia, the Czech Republic and the United States.
The indictment says that “thousands of Americans, after receiving explanations of benefits performance, reflect concerns about Medicare and its contractors after receiving equipment they neither seek or receive”.
According to the New York Times, the group transferred its proceeds to bank accounts in countries such as Singapore, Pakistan and Israel through Shell and laundered it using cryptocurrency.
Health & Wellness Contributor
A wellness enthusiast and certified nutrition advisor, Meera covers everything from healthy living tips to medical breakthroughs. Her articles aim to inform and inspire readers to live better every day.
