Doctor Indicted in $6.8M Medicare Fraud Scheme
A federal grand jury in Florida has charged a New York physician with conspiracy and healthcare fraud tied to a telemedicine operation.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Financial Crime
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A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned an indictment against a New York doctor, who is accused of conspiring to bill Medicare for consultations that never occurred. Prosecutors allege he signed pre-filled prescriptions for beneficiaries he never examined, with more than $6.8 million in false claims submitted.
Why it matters
The case shows how telemedicine arrangements can be exploited to generate large volumes of fraudulent federal claims. It also comes as federal prosecutors continue to pursue similar schemes through specialized enforcement units.
The doctor was indicted on one conspiracy count and five counts of healthcare fraud, with each count carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if he is convicted. The charges remain allegations, and no trial date or plea has been reported.
The players
U.S. Department of Justice
The U.S. Department of Justice is the federal agency responsible for prosecuting federal crimes, including healthcare fraud against government programs like Medicare.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the principal federal investigative agency of the United States, and its Miami Field Office handled the investigation in this case.
The details
Prosecutors allege the doctor signed pre-filled prescriptions for Medicare beneficiaries who did not need orthotic braces, often without speaking to them or examining them. The scheme allegedly ran through a telemedicine company whose owner was separately sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud.
Timeline
March 2026: The telemedicine company owner pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud.
October 2026: The owner was sentenced to 20 years in prison and agreed to pay $17.9 million in restitution.
Week of November 9, 2026: A federal grand jury returned the indictment against the New York doctor.
Enforcement Track Record
The indictment follows a pattern set by the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which has charged 6,200 defendants since 2007 for billing federal programs and insurers roughly $45 billion. The case extends that enforcement record into telemedicine arrangements that prosecutors say were used to generate fraudulent claims.
Patients enrolled in Medicare who receive telehealth prescriptions should verify that any consultation they are billed for actually took place. Anyone who suspects improper billing can report concerns to federal healthcare fraud investigators.
The takeaway
Medicare beneficiaries should keep records of their telehealth visits and question any billed service they do not recall receiving. Federal enforcement continues to target fraud that exploits remote care arrangements.
Further reading
Explore more reporting on Financial Crime cases across the United States.
More information
Learn more about federal enforcement efforts through the DOJ health care fraud section information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Townhall.
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