was probing more than 300 matters involving genetic test schemes, in which seniors were tricked into providing a cheek swab to determine their risk for developing cancer.

In a 2019 special report, Reuters reported that the U.S. Prior to the pandemic, investigators were focused on schemes related to the billing of unnecessary purchases of durable medical equipment such as crutches and walkers, as well as genetic testing screenings to determine risks for developing inherited cancers. However, those figures also include billings for genetic cancer screenings that were tacked on as well. The official said the total amount billed in the cases involving cardiovascular genetic testing fraud was $748 million, of which $223 million was paid. The alleged fraud schemes relate to both older and well-known billing and kick-back practices that target the Medicare program, as well as a burgeoning new fraudulent practice which involves вЂњpreying on patientsвЂ™ fear of cardiovascular diseaseвЂќ by duping them into submitting to medically unnecessary cardiovascular disease screening tests, a Justice Department official told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.Д«illing for such cardiovascular genetic tests has spiked in the past year, Justice Department officials added, noting that some of these tests get billed for as high as $10,000 each, with claims sometimes paying out as much as $8,000. Department of Health and Human Services, took parallel administrative action against 52 companies involved in similar schemes. Separately, the Center for Medicare Services, part of the U.S. вЂњThe cases announced today include charges against people who brazenly used Medicare funds to purchase luxury items, medical professionals who corruptly approved testing and equipment, and business owners who submitted false and fraudulent claims for services patients did not need,вЂќ Kenneth Polite, the head of the departmentвЂ™s criminal division, told Reuters in a statement. Prosecutors said the schemes intended to bilk Medicare out of $1.2 billion, though the actual losses are closer to $440 million. Department of Justice Building in Washington, U.S., December 15, 2020.

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