Eight Puerto Rico nationals, who are believed to be connected with the $10 M Health Care fraud case, were taken into custody by the authorities on Thursday. They were charged for bribery, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Among the arrested are three employees of the Puerto Rico's Health Department and five others who participated in recruiting Medicaid participants in replace for a bribe amounting from $10 to $30 each person. As per Yahoo, a group of people in Puerto Rico coming from affluent backgrounds were involved in the $10 M Health Care fraud case. Elite individuals, whose salary reaches over $100,000 a year, including popular models, artists, lawyers and government employees were reportedly covered by Medicaid. As per Health Care officers, only people, who earn $24,000 and below could qualify for the health care benefit.
"Today's arrests by HHS-OIG agents and our law enforcement partners show that we will not tolerate the improper use of health care program funds such as Medicaid which are essential to the welfare of low-income families in our community," said U.S. Attorney Rodríguez-Vélez, according to The United States Department of Justice's press release,. "The U.S. Attorney's Office and federal law enforcement agencies will continue to investigate, charge and prosecute those who corruptly enrich themselves at the expense of the Medicaid program.
Three agents of the Medicaid program in Puerto Rico known as Programa de Asistencia Medica Santurce Office received monetary bribes in exchange of approving individuals to qualify for Medicaid benefits without questions. Records showed that the indicted employees involved in the $10M Health Care fraud case have approved 20 to 30 applicants in a weekly basis, New York Times claims. They received $10 from each applicant. To address the issue, the Puerto Rico Department of Health Medicaid Anti-Fraud Unit sent out about 6,000 letters to questionable members.
Medicaid is a government health benefit program designed to provide help to individuals and families who belong to low-income bracket. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funds the program through its agency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In Puerto Rico, individuals are being approved for Medicaid by the government after meeting certain requirements. Under the program, individuals who don't qualify under the prerequisites won't receive any benefits.
If the defendants will be proven guilty over the $10M Health Care fraud case, they could face sentences of up to twenty years and a mandatory two year term of imprisonment for aggravated identity theft.
