Fil-Am doctor in NY charged for $20.7M alleged health care fraud

Photo from Alexander Baldonado/Facebook

A Filipino American doctor from Queens, New York is facing charges for allegedly pocketing cash kickbacks and unnecessary Medicare claims amounting to $20.7 million.

According to the federal grand jury in New Jersey, Dr. Alexander Baldonado, 68, engaged in a health care fraud and illegal kickback scheme that involved the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for laboratory tests, including cancer genetic tests.

The Fil-Am doctor’s scheme unveiled

Baldonado also allegedly received kickbacks from laboratory representatives in exchange for the approval of unnecessary medical exams.

“As part of the scheme, Baldonado also allegedly participated in COVID-19 testing events, where he authorized not only COVID-19 tests but also expensive and medically unnecessary cancer genetic tests that patients did not request,” the indictment states.

Baldonado faces the following charges: 

• One count of conspiracy in committing health care fraud
• Two counts of conspiracy to defraud the US and pay and receive health care cash kickbacks
• One count of soliciting health care kickbacks

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri has announced the charges, emphasizing the commitment of the Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Justice Department and the FBI to combat health care fraud.

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Since March 2007, the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, with nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. 

In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes.