Man Pleads Guilty In $6 Million Medicare Scheme: How To Spot And Avoid These Scams

A man from Massachusetts has admitted in court to helping steal more than $6 million from Medicare, the government health insurance program for older adults and people with disabilities. Leo Anzivino Jr., 35, of Falmouth, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court in Concord, New Hampshire. He was charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy, which means he helped hide stolen money to make it look like it came from a legal source. He could spend up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on January 21, 2027.

Prosecutors — the lawyers who work for the government in court — said Anzivino agreed to be the fake owner of a company called Advanced Medical Supply Corp. in Rochester, New Hampshire. His name was on the company's paperwork, but other people were actually running and controlling the business. This is called being a 'straw' owner, which means someone puts their name on something so the real owners can hide. The real owners used the company to commit fraud.

The company sent knee and back braces to Medicare patients who had never asked for them and whose doctors had never prescribed them. To get paid, the company sent Medicare fake doctors' orders to make it look like the equipment was needed. Medicare ended up paying more than $3 million on these false claims before the fraud was discovered. Some patients were so confused that they mailed the braces back with notes saying they thought it was a scam.

Anzivino also lied on bank paperwork to hide who truly owned the company. Even after he found out that Medicare was planning to stop letting the company send in bills, he still moved nearly $1.5 million to other accounts in just five weeks. He did this in three separate transfers, trying to get the money out before authorities could stop him. Actions like this are a key part of what money laundering looks like.

Medicare fraud costs American taxpayers billions of dollars every year, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, also known as CMS. Scams involving medical equipment like braces are one of the most common types of Medicare fraud. CMS warns people to be careful about medical supplies that show up unexpectedly in the mail. If you or a family member gets equipment you never asked for, that is a big warning sign.

There are several ways to protect yourself or your family from Medicare fraud. You should never give your Medicare number to anyone except your doctor or another trusted health care provider. Be suspicious of anyone who says medical equipment is free and just needs your Medicare number, or who claims to know a trick for getting Medicare to pay for something. Also, Medicare never sends salespeople to knock on doors, so anyone who shows up claiming to be from Medicare is likely trying to scam you.

Checking Medicare statements regularly is one of the best ways to catch fraud early. People with Original Medicare can review their Medicare Summary Notice, which is a statement that shows what was billed and what Medicare paid. They can also check their account at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE, which is 1-800-633-4227. People who have a Medicare Advantage plan should read the statements their plan sends them in the mail.

If you think someone is committing Medicare fraud, there are ways to report it. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS, which is 1-800-447-8477. You can also file a complaint online at tips.oig.hhs.gov. Reporting fraud helps protect taxpayers and makes sure Medicare money goes to people who truly need it.