Federal authorities said they've broken up a $1.2 billion Medicare scam that peddled unneeded orthopedic braces to hundreds of thousands of seniors via foreign call centers.
The Justice Department announced charges against 24 people across the U.S., including doctors accused of writing bogus prescriptions for unneeded back, shoulder, wrist and knee braces.
Medicare's anti-fraud unit said it's taking action against 130 medical equipment companies implicated. They billed the program a total of $1.7 billion, of which more than $900 million was paid out.
Medicare's anti-fraud unit said it's taking action against 130 medical equipment companies implicated. They billed the program a total of $1.7 billion, of which more than $900 million was paid out.
Telemarketers would reach out to seniors offering "free" orthopedic braces, also touted through television and radio ads. Beneficiaries who expressed interest would be patched through to call centers in the Philippines and throughout Latin America.
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