<\/p>\n
More than a dozen health care professionals in North Texas are accused of submitting hundreds of millions of dollars in\u00a0false and fraudulent health care claims.<\/p>\n
Jenny Kane\/AP<\/p>\n
More than a dozen health care professionals in North Texas are accused of submitting hundreds of millions of dollars in\u00a0false and fraudulent health care claims<\/a>.<\/p>\n Physicians, nurses and other health care workers face an array of federal charges, from conspiracy to commit fraud to offering and accepting bribes. The charges are part of a sweeping federal investigation announced Tuesday that has led to charges against about 450 people, including 90 physicians, nationwide. Authorities say the fraudulent claims totaled $6.5 billion nationwide.<\/p>\n In North Texas, authorities say they have identified $365 million in fraudulent and false claims and have seized more than $35 million in cash, luxury vehicles and other assets.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cHealth care fraud is not a victimless crime,\u201d Jason Meadows, special agent in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services<\/a>, said at a news conference Tuesday in Dallas. \u201cThis kind of fraud drains critical resources, steals from American taxpayers and directly threatens programs meant to serve our most vulnerable citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: Frisco couple arrested in $2.5 million psychic fraud scheme to cleanse curses<\/a><\/p>\n A look at cases<\/p>\n A Fort Worth physician is accused of running a years-long scheme to administer ultrasounds, EKGs and other medically unnecessary tests on student athletes with no preexisting conditions.<\/p>\n Prosecutors say Dr. Jason Finkelstein, 53, preyed on the fears of athletes that they could die of sudden cardiac arrest on the court or field. He offered bribes and kickbacks to athletic directors and hired\u00a0sonographers without proper training to travel to college campuses around the country administering tests, the indictment says.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n At the same time, Finkelstein declared tests normal without properly examining them, the indictment says. In one case, a patient\u2019s results were incorrectly certified as normal. He later died after his heart problems went undetected.<\/p>\n Finkelstein has pleaded not guilty in a federal courtroom this week in Florida. An attorney for the doctor did not return a phone call or email Tuesday from\u00a0The Dallas Morning News.<\/p>\n From 2019 to 2024, Finkelstein submitted some $89 million in false and fraudulent claims to commercial and federally funded insurance programs, prosecutors say.<\/p>\n Insurance companies do not typically cover blanket cardiovascular testing, instead requiring a medical necessity. To avert that requirement, prosecutors say, Finkelstein submitted phony diagnoses of conditions, such as elevated blood pressure and hypertension.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n