Authorities: $1B Medicare fraud nursing home scam, 3 charged

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Federal authorities have charged three people in an alleged $1 billion health care fraud scam, accusing them of using their network of more than two dozen nursing homes in Miami to bilk the taxpayer-funded Medicare program.

According to an indictment unsealed Friday, Philip Esformes and his conspirators referred patients their nursing homes and assisted living facilities even though they did not qualify for the services. Authorities said Esformes, Odette Barcha and Arnaldo Carmouze, also received kickbacks for steering patients to other community health care providers, adding they all billed Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary services.

The three were charged with conspiracy, obstruction, money laundering and health care fraud. It’s unclear if they have retained lawyers.

Miami has long been ground zero for Medicare fraud.

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