Alexander Baldonado, 69, caused more than $24 million in fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medicare and was ordered to pay $2.21 million in restitution following his sentencing in October, the US Attorney’s Office announced Friday, Dec. 12.
Baldonado received tens of thousands of dollars in illegal cash kickbacks and bribes in exchange for ordering medically unnecessary laboratory tests — including high-cost cancer genetic tests — that were billed by two New York labs, according to prosecutors.
During the scheme, Baldonado authorized hundreds of cancer genetic tests for Medicare beneficiaries who attended COVID-19 testing events at assisted-living facilities, adult day care centers, and a retirement community in 2020…