Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Miami Herald - April 3, 2007
John Dorschner, jdorschner@MiamiHerald.com
Raul Rodriguez and Armando Arias were accused of committing fraud using Coral Way Professional Services and Sunshine Health Center of Miami, as well as R&J Medical Services and N.R. Medical Services, both located in Miami-Dade County.
The infusion therapy schemes have been widespread. According to a governor's office report, Florida has far fewer AIDS/HIV cases than California or New York, but Florida providers submitted claims for AIDS/HIV cases that were more than three times the claims from California and five times more than from New York, according to the report.
The clinics and their operators have been difficult for investigators to track down because they often switch names, owners and locations, closing quickly as investigators approach.
Tuesday's indictment showed what investigators call a typical pattern, in which Medicare patients were given kickbacks to indicate they were given treatment at the clinics.
Besides Rodriguez and Arias, those indicted were Carlos Enrique Monteagudo, Alain Rhaf Vega, Marisol Gonzalez Torres, Edith Balog, Leonel Galdos Jr., William Balladares, Yulen Arderi and Jannette Morales.
Balog was accused of being the owner of record of R&J from November 2002 to August 2004. Torres was office manager and patient recruiter at Coral Way from October 2004 through March 2005, when the clinic closed.
The indictment charges that the accused received about $2.5 million in fraudulent durable medical equipment claims and $3.2 million for false billing of infusion therapies.
Prosecutors alleged that a medical assistant was told to tamper with blood samples to justify the HIV/AIDS therapies and to inject patients with a salt solution rather than medications.
Rodriguez, Arias, Monteagudo, Vega, Galdos and Balladares were also accused of money laundering in alleged attempts to hide the money from federal authorities.
Rodriguez and Arias were also charged with witness tampering in alleged attempts to bribe persons to get them to lie to investigators and a grand jury.
The case is being prosecuted by William J. Parente Jr., a special assistant U.S. attorney.
070403
MH070401
Copyright © 2007 - Miami Herald. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Miami Herald, Permissions, One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132-1693 TEL: (305) 376-3719. http://www.herald.com.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2007. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2007. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .