Miami Home Health Care Worker Sentenced in Health Care Fraud Scam

Margarita Palomino of Homestead, Florida pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Palomino who worked for three home health agencies where she allegedly accepted kickbacks for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries, even ones that did not qualify for home health services and changed claims coding to increase reimbursement by Medicare. Palomino also admitted that she performed home health care nursing visits and prepared related medical records although she does not have a license to do so in the United States.

Medicare made payments of at least $4.65 million as a result of false and fraudulent claims submitted as part of this conspiracy. Palomino was sentenced to over six years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for her role in the health care fraud scheme.

Click here for the press release.