Fil-Am doctor in New York faces multiple charges over alleged healthcare fraud scheme

NEW YORK CITY — A prominent Filipino-American physician in Queens, New York, is potentially facing nearly a century in prison after a federal grand jury in New Jersey issued a superseding indictment for multiple charges related to fraud and healthcare.

These charges include conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and soliciting healthcare kickbacks, totaling over $20.7 million or more than P360 million pesos.

Court documents allege that Dr. Alexander Baldonado, 68, received cash kickbacks from a laboratory representative and others for approving orders for laboratory tests billed to Medicare. Additionally, he authorized COVID-19 tests and expensive, medically unnecessary cancer genetic tests at COVID-19 testing events.

These tests were not requested by patients, not used in treatment, and rarely yielded results. Baldonado is also accused of billing Medicare for lengthy office visits he did not provide.

Baldonado allegedly defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by accepting cash kickbacks and bribes from a durable medical equipment supply company owner in exchange for ordering orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary and ineligible for reimbursement.

If found guilty, Baldonado could face up to 10 years in prison for each count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, and soliciting healthcare kickbacks, as well as up to five years in prison for each count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive healthcare kickbacks. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district judge, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

GMA Integrated News is seeking Dr. Baldonado’s response to the charges filed against him. — VDV, GMA Integrated News