A New York doctor has been convicted by a federal jury for submitting over $24 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare. Dr. Alexander Baldonado, aged 69 and residing in Queens, was found guilty of ordering unnecessary laboratory tests and orthotic braces in exchange for illegal cash kickbacks and bribes.
Court documents revealed that Baldonado received substantial sums for authorizing expensive cancer genetic tests billed to Medicare by two laboratories based in New York. The scheme involved hundreds of such tests ordered for Medicare beneficiaries at COVID-19 testing events held at various facilities during 2020. Baldonado did not treat or interact with these patients before ordering the tests, nor did he conduct the office visits he billed to Medicare.
Additionally, Baldonado accepted illegal payments from a durable medical equipment supply company owner for prescribing unneeded orthotic braces. Evidence included undercover video footage showing him receiving cash for signed prescriptions.
The fraudulent activities led to Medicare being billed over $24 million, with more than $2.1 million paid out to the implicated laboratories and equipment company.
Baldonado was convicted on multiple counts including conspiracy to commit health care fraud and solicitation of health care kickbacks. He now awaits sentencing scheduled for June 26, facing up to 10 years in prison per count related to health care fraud and five years per count related to defrauding the United States.
The case announcement was made by Antoinette T. Bacon from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Naomi Gruchacz from HHS-OIG, and Terence G. Reilly from the FBI Newark Field Office. The investigation was conducted by HHS-OIG and the FBI, while prosecution is handled by Rebecca Yuan and Hyungjoo Han from the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division.
This conviction is part of ongoing efforts by the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program which has charged over 5,800 defendants since its inception in March 2007.
More information about this initiative can be found on www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.