Washington physician David Becerril, MD, has been charged with 16 counts of conspiracy, fraud and false statements for his alleged participation in a telemarketing healthcare fraud scheme.
Dr. Becerril allegedly falsely billed Medicare for medically unnecessary genetic tests and durable medical equipment, such as back, knee, shoulder and ankle braces, according to a June 7 news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
The indictment alleges that between February 2018 and September 2019, telemarketers from Real Time Physicians obtained personal information and beneficiary numbers from elderly Medicare beneficiaries, which Dr. Becerril allegedly used to place false and fraudulent orders for braces and genetic tests for the beneficiaries without treating them.
Dr. Becerril was allegedly paid more than $1.5 million before the fraud was uncovered. Marc Sporn, former owner of Real Time Physicians, was sentenced in June 2022 to 14 years in federal prison for his involvement in the scheme.