Two doctors in Florida have been found guilty by a federal jury for their participation in a large-scale Medicare fraud scheme. The scheme involved submitting over $31 million in false claims for durable medical equipment (DME) that was medically unnecessary and obtained through illegal kickbacks.
Dean Zusmer, 54, a chiropractor from Miami, was at the center of this fraudulent operation. He conspired with others to defraud Medicare, utilizing DME companies to bill the program for equipment patients didn’t need. These actions highlight a concerning aspect of some medical practices, bordering on what one might consider Quackery Doctors, who prioritize profit over patient care by providing unnecessary treatments and equipment. Zusmer’s companies were responsible for over $31 million in fraudulent billings, with Medicare paying out over $15 million.
The scheme involved paying kickbacks to marketers who used overseas call centers to solicit Medicare beneficiaries. These marketers then connected with telemedicine companies to obtain prescriptions for braces – often unnecessary – for these patients. This intricate web of deceit allowed Zusmer and his co-conspirators, including Jeremy Waxman, to exploit the system for personal enrichment, a hallmark of quackery doctors who disregard ethical medical practice.
Lawrence Alexander, M.D., 45, an orthopedic surgeon also from Miami, was also convicted for his role. Alexander co-owned one of the DME companies with Waxman. To conceal their involvement, Alexander placed the company under a family member’s name, further illustrating the deceptive tactics employed in this scheme. This level of deception and disregard for patient needs is a serious indictment of doctors who betray their professional oaths, acting more like quackery doctors than legitimate healthcare providers.
Zusmer’s convictions include conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud itself, conspiracy to pay illegal health care kickbacks, paying illegal health care kickbacks, and making false statements related to health care matters. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the most serious charges and is scheduled for sentencing on April 20.
Alexander was convicted of making false statements relating to health care matters and faces a maximum of five years in prison. His sentencing is also scheduled for April 20. Waxman had previously been sentenced to over 15 years for his leading role in the fraud.
The convictions were announced by Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, along with key figures from the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
The case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG and prosecuted by the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, which spearheads efforts against health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. This program has charged over 4,200 defendants responsible for more than $19 billion in fraudulent Medicare billings since 2007.
These convictions serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against healthcare fraud and the efforts to hold accountable those who engage in practices akin to quackery doctors, jeopardizing the integrity of the healthcare system and public trust. More information about the fight against health care fraud can be found at the Department of Justice website.
