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Federal officials on Friday announced charges against 35 people linked to a large Medicare scam. It's been two weeks since a CBS News survey revealed how recruiters are urging seniors to submit a DNA sample to a "free" genetic cancer risk test.
According to CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod, many victims of the scam never receive their results and their Medicare account is still billed. The accused are accused of having submitted over $ 2.1 billion worth of fake Medicare claims.
Dr. Daniel Canchola is one of the accused. Axelrod confronted Canchola on a parking lot about signing test results from a couple whose Medicare accounts were charged $ 19,000.
According to the Ministry of Justice press release, Canchola is "indicted for his alleged removal of Medicare beneficiaries for medically unnecessary" cancer screening "or" CGx "tests." He has been accused of filing fraudulent claims worth $ 69 million.
"Canchola received bribes and illegal bribes" for the orders he signed "and he did so without examining or talking to patients," said the spokesman. Ministry of Justice.
Two retirees, Ken and Judy Johnson, were informed of these tests at an arts festival in Fort Lauderdale. With a cheek swab, they could know if they carry genes that make it more likely to be diagnosed with cancer.
"I had cancer, six years ago, they said that they could give us results such that, if they are genetic, they could be passed on to my children." four girls, "said Judy.
In total, Medicare charged them $ 19,000 for their tests and they never received their results. CBS News has discovered dozens of others who have been recruited by other marketers. In one case, an 85-year-old mentally disabled woman was rubbed by door-to-door representatives in North Carolina. This Medicare bill is over $ 21,000.
The recruiters convinced seniors to give them a saliva sample and their Medicare cards. One rookie claimed to earn $ 200 per senior and others to withdraw thousands per month. She said the Medicare bill could range from $ 2,500 to $ 10,000.
Once a recruiter has obtained a saliva sample and a Medicare card, Medicare pays the lab to treat the swab, provided that a doctor has signed a test order. Recruiters therefore associate with voluntary laboratories and doctors who certify that tests are medically necessary.
The former prosecutor, Bob Thomas, told CBS News that some people might not qualify later for legitimate DNA testing.
"It's tragic in some ways, because these people are not going to have two apple bites," he said.
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