If a parent or an older relative is on Medicare, you’ve probably already had the conversation about watching their mail for anything that looks like a scam. A guilty plea out of Massachusetts this week is a reminder of something else. The fraud behind those warnings isn’t always a stranger calling. Sometimes it’s a company that looks legitimate enough to actually bill the program.
What he pleaded guilty to
Leo Anzivino Jr., 35, of Falmouth, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy. The Department of Justice’s announcement, dated October 13, says he was the straw owner of Advanced Medical Supply Corp. — a durable-medical-equipment company based in Rochester, New Hampshire. That’s the kind of business that supplies things like wheelchairs, braces and home medical devices, usually billed straight to Medicare.
A guilty plea means this part of the case is resolved on the facts. What’s left is sentencing — and if you’ve ever wondered what actually happens after a fraud case like this gets announced, this is it.
How the scheme is said to have worked
Prosecutors say Advanced billed Medicare more than $6 million using fake physician orders. Those are paperwork made to look like a doctor had prescribed equipment that was never actually ordered or needed. Medicare paid out more than $3 million of that before the pattern caught up with the company…