Flor Crisologo, owner and operator of J & F Community Medical Center, a Miami HIV infusion clinic, has been arrested and charged for her alleged participation in a $23 million Medicare fraud scheme, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
Ms. Crisologo has been charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, to cause the submission of false claims to the Medicare program and to pay healthcare kickbacks; one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud; and three counts of submitting false claims to the Medicare program. Ms. Crisologo also is charged with one count of conspiracy to launder the fraud proceeds and four counts of money laundering.
The indictment alleges Ms. Crisologo submitted approximately $23 million in false and fraudulent claims to the Medicare program for HIV injection and infusion services purportedly provided through J & F. According to the indictment, Ms. Crisologo hired a physician at J & F and caused the physician to order unnecessary tests, sign false medical analyses and diagnosis forms and authorize treatments to make it appear that medical services were being provided to patients who were Medicare beneficiaries. The services included medically unnecessary injection and infusion therapies. The indictment also alleges that Ms. Crisologo and her co-conspirators paid Medicare beneficiaries kickbacks to induce them to claim they received legitimate services at the clinic when in fact the HIV infusion services were either not provided or were not medically necessary.
Ms. Crisologo faces up to five years in prison for each count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and for each count of filing false claims. She additionally faces 10 years in prison for each count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and for each count of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Read the DOJ's release on Flor Crisologo.
Ms. Crisologo has been charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, to cause the submission of false claims to the Medicare program and to pay healthcare kickbacks; one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud; and three counts of submitting false claims to the Medicare program. Ms. Crisologo also is charged with one count of conspiracy to launder the fraud proceeds and four counts of money laundering.
The indictment alleges Ms. Crisologo submitted approximately $23 million in false and fraudulent claims to the Medicare program for HIV injection and infusion services purportedly provided through J & F. According to the indictment, Ms. Crisologo hired a physician at J & F and caused the physician to order unnecessary tests, sign false medical analyses and diagnosis forms and authorize treatments to make it appear that medical services were being provided to patients who were Medicare beneficiaries. The services included medically unnecessary injection and infusion therapies. The indictment also alleges that Ms. Crisologo and her co-conspirators paid Medicare beneficiaries kickbacks to induce them to claim they received legitimate services at the clinic when in fact the HIV infusion services were either not provided or were not medically necessary.
Ms. Crisologo faces up to five years in prison for each count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and for each count of filing false claims. She additionally faces 10 years in prison for each count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and for each count of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Read the DOJ's release on Flor Crisologo.