TRENTON, N.J. – A Florida man at present admitted his position in a sturdy medical tools kickback scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger introduced.

Patrick Fitchner, 51, of Orlando, Florida, pleaded responsible at present earlier than U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal courtroom to an info charging him with one depend of conspiracy to commit well being care fraud.

“The defendant admitted that he and his conspirators submitted millions of dollars’ worth of claims to Medicare and other health benefits programs that they knew were procured through the payment of kickbacks and bribes,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger stated. “Their scheme caused Medicare to pay out $3.6 million in fraudulently obtained reimbursements. Protecting our healthcare system from schemers like this is a full-time job, and we will use all the tools at our disposal to do so.”

“Many scammers who commit healthcare fraud may believe the system is so complex that no one will miss a few thousand dollars here or a few million dollars there,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy stated. “The problem with that premise is we are paying attention, and our job as the FBI is to protect the general public from criminals who think they can game the system. Fitchner and his conspirators are now paying for their crimes, and others looking to follow suit should take note.”

“Violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute that involve durable medical equipment can jeopardize the supply of equipment and federal health care benefits for others,” Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General stated. “Individuals who participate in the federal health care system are required to obey the laws meant to preserve the integrity of program funds and the provision of appropriate, quality services to patients.”

According to paperwork filed within the case and statements made in courtroom:

Fitchner and his conspirators solicited and obtained kickbacks and bribes in change for offering sturdy medical tools (DME) corporations with accomplished medical doctors’ orders for medically pointless DME, reminiscent of orthotic braces. Fitchner and his conspirators utilized the service of telemedicine corporations to acquire these prescriptions for DME, and the DME orders have been subsequently fraudulently billed to Medicare and different well being care profit packages.

Fitchner and his conspirators have been paid roughly $2.1 million in kickbacks for these DME orders and brought about losses to Medicare and different well being care profit packages of at the least $3.6 million.

The cost of conspiracy to commit well being care fraud is punishable by a most potential penalty of 10 years in jail and a high quality of $250,000, or twice the gross revenue or loss brought on by the offense, whichever is biggest. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited particular brokers of the FBI, beneath the course of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, beneath the course of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz; and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, beneath the course of Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri, with the investigation resulting in at present’s responsible plea.

The authorities is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys DeNae M. Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark and Sean M. Sherman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office within the Eastern District of New York.