MIAMI, April 2 (UPI) -- A doctor and six Miami-area residents were indicted Wednesday in an alleged Medicare fraud scheme involving HIV clinics, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Dr. Ana Alvarez, 54; Mariela Rodriguez, 39; Aisa Perera, 42; Beatriz Delgado, 48; Angel Rodriguez, 40; Sandra Mateos, 43; and Carmen Gonzalez, 33, were charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States of $11 million, to cause the submission of false claims and to pay healthcare kickbacks and conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.
The indictment said Mariela Rodriguez and Perera incorporated Saint Jude Rehab Center, Inc. in 2003 as a medical clinic purporting to specialize in treating HIV patients. Delgado, a receptionist at Saint Jude, allegedly agreed to be incorrectly listed on filed corporate records as president and registered agent of Saint Jude.
Alvarez was hired to work at Saint Jude despite having no prior expertise in treating HIV patients, ordered unnecessary tests, signed medical analysis and diagnosis forms and authorized treatments without regard to medical necessity to make it appear that legitimate medical services were being provided to HIV patients receiving Medicare benefits, the indictment charged.
The indictment charged that Mariela Rodriguez, Perera, and Delgado withdrew cash from Saint Jude's bank account for Angel Rodriguez, Mateos and Gonzalez, assistants at Saint Jude, to pay cash kickbacks of approximately $100 to $150 per visit to HIV patients in return for the patients stating that they had received the treatments that were billed to Medicare, when in fact the patients hadn't received the treatments, the indictment said.
