Federal Officials Charge 17 in Prescription Drug Fraud Ring
Last week, federal authorities charged 17 individuals for allegedly submitting false prescription drug claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal that caused the government to pay several times for the same medications. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. According to the complaint, members of the drug fraud ring unlawfully obtained expensive antipsychotic medications -- such as Abilify, Seroquel and Zyprexa -- from San Gabriel Valley pharmacies and then funneled the drugs back to the pharmacies, which would repackage and dispense the drugs again. Authorities said more than $18 million in bills were sent to the federal government and that about $7.3 million was paid out.
- "17 Accused of Medicare Fraud" (Girion, Los Angeles Times, 10/28).
- "Feds Break Up $18M Los Angeles-Area Medicare Scam" (AP/Miami Herald, 10/27).