$200 million Healthcare Fraudulent Scheme in Miami

Added by James Morley on October 21, 2010

US prosecutors stated that two officials of a renowned chain of community mental-healthcare centers were arrested on Thursday, October 21, in Miami for being involved in a $200m scheme with regard to fraudulent medical claims.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida stated that four people from the company American Therapeutic Corp. had conspired and intended to charge Medicare that weren’t provided to patients.

The charges brought upon the four members of the mental health centers were accused for conspiring to fraud the US to receive approximately $200m from healthcare kickbacks.

American Therapeutic Corp and its health centers are licensed by Medicare, a federal insurance planner for the disabled and elder people, and is part of the biggest chain of community mental health centers.

The owner of the company, Lawrence Duran, together with Marianella Valera, the chief executive, and two more senior employees were arrested on Thursday for fraudulent medical claims and conspiracy to defraud the US.

This case surpasses last week’s fraud that was discovered in New York, where a crime group comprised of both Americans and Armenians tried to get out of the federal program around $160m through phantom healthcare clinics.