Two Florida business owners, Nicholas A. Alberino, 61, and his son Nicholas P. Alberino, 34, are accused of running a $28 million health care fraud and kickback operation. The pair allegedly exploited Medicare through their marketing and medical device companies, as detailed in a federal indictment.

Allegations of Health Care Fraud

From February 2018 to April 2019, the Alberinos operated five companies that generated unnecessary prescriptions for costly medications and durable medical equipment (DME) like orthotic braces. They allegedly used telemarketing and telemedicine tactics to target Medicare beneficiaries, pressuring them to accept these prescriptions. The Alberinos sent patient details and pre-written orders to RediDoc LLC, a telemedicine firm, which forwarded them to physicians. Prosecutors claim these doctors approved prescriptions without conducting legitimate medical evaluations.

Once the prescriptions were signed, the Alberinos allegedly directed them to suppliers and pharmacies involved in kickback agreements. They are accused of paying over $6 million in bribes to RediDoc and receiving more than $27 million from collaborators in return. Additionally, they reportedly submitted fraudulent claims directly to Medicare, collecting $1.7 million themselves.

Consequences of Health Care Fraud

This health care fraud case highlights the financial damage such schemes cause, with Medicare reportedly paying $27 million for false claims. The Alberinos face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, wire fraud, and anti-Kickback statute violations. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison for certain charges and substantial financial penalties.

The investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and other agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine M. Romano and Garrett J. Schuman are handling the prosecution.

Health care fraud not only affects federal programs but also undermines trust in the medical system. This case serves as a reminder of ongoing efforts to combat fraud and protect the integrity of health care resources. The defendants remain innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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