We represent victims of reverse discrimination and anti-DEI whistleblowers

Healthcare professionals have a duty to do whatever is in the best interests of their patients. Unfortunately, the massive amount of money that is paid to medical practitioners through insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid leads some doctors and nurses to break the law by billing for unnecessary services, equipment and medications. This type of fraud can lead to serious legal consequences, including forfeiture of the ill-gotten gains. 

In one recent Miami case, the Department of Justice (DOJ) seized more than $4 million in assets and a 2021 Land Rover from a formerly married couple in connection with a large-scale healthcare fraud and money laundering scheme. Magaly Travieso, an advanced practitioner registered nurse and owner of ProMed Healthcare, L.L.C., has been charged with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Yudorki Ramirez, 52, has been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

According to the DOJ, Travieso operated ProMed Healthcare, a medical clinic that claimed to provide various types of treatment and medical devices to Floridians. Claims made by ProMed included bills for back and shoulder braces, mental health therapy, psychosocial rehabilitation and physical therapy. All told, Travieso and her co-conspirators allegedly conspired with others to submit over $20 million in fraudulent claims for reimbursement. Of this amount, ProMed took in more than $10 million in payments.

Government investigators found that many of the claims were for services that were never provided or were medically unnecessary. Instead of helping patients, reimbursements were used to support an opulent lifestyle for Travieso and Ramirez. Along with the luxury vehicle, approximately $750,000 went toward a Miami residence and approximately $2 million was deposited into investment accounts. 

Money laundering charges often accompany health care fraud cases, as perpetrators attempt to disguise the origins of illicit funds through complex financial transactions. Frequently, public and private health insurance programs have difficulty detecting fraud among medical providers. Employees and others close to the fraudulent actors are in many cases the key to unwinding an illegal healthcare scheme. 

When you become aware of phony claims or another type of fraudulent behavior involving a government healthcare program, reporting what you know doesn’t just benefit the system. By acting as a whistleblower, you could personally receive a share of the funds recovered by the government. If you’re aware of this type of impropriety, Kardell Law Group can analyze the facts and represent you in a potential legal action.