Medicare Racket Alleged in Miami

MIAMI (CN) - In just 11 days, Lazaro Martinez and his company, National Medical Services Group, billed Medicare for $6.3 million in 1,091 claims, federal prosecutors say. Medicare paid National $2.2 million for the claims, all of which were for injections of one drug, which is injected into the knee for arthritis, and all of which allegedly were done by the same doctor. Uncle Sam doubts this.

Prosecutors say the doctor who allegedly did all those injections told federal agents "that he neither treated nor prescribed any services or medications to any beneficiaries at National." The doctor also told the federal agents that he had contacted Martinez, who "told him that National was not open ... [and] that National has never been in operation."

Uncle Sam wants $5,500 to $11,000 for each false claim.

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