Florida Doctor to spend 18 months in prison for Medicare fraud
Healthcare Auditing Weekly, October 9, 2007
Dr. Orestes Alvarez-Jacinto was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement in a $7 million HIV infusion therapy scheme. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health fraud.
Alvarez-Jacinto was formerly employed at Saint Jude Rehab Center as the medical director. He authorized the use of the drug WinRho, along with different vitamin supplements, for HIV patients he was seeing. The government alleges that Alvarez-Jacinto was aware that the drug could harm patients and that patients did not need it.
He approved more than $7 million in fraudulent medical bills and Medicare paid $5 million of the bills to Saint Jude. As part of the settlement, Alvarez-Jacinto will also pay $90,000 in forfeiture and $5,116,366 in restitution.
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