Athletes Exploited in $89 Million Cardiac Test Scheme

The Justice Department announced criminal charges against 455 individuals in a recent two-week nationwide healthcare fraud crackdown. These schemes aimed to fraudulently obtain over $6.5 billion from insurers. Among the indicted is a Texas nurse practitioner accused of billing for unnecessary wound care and a mental health company owner who allegedly targeted homeless individuals.

A significant case in Florida involves cardiologist Jason Finkelstein, 53, facing charges for an $89 million healthcare fraud scheme. Prosecutors allege Finkelstein billed insurers for unnecessary cardiovascular screening tests for college student-athletes, falsely certifying results without personal review between 2019 and the end of last year.

This operation allegedly exploited athletes' fears of sudden cardiac arrest, with Finkelstein and co-conspirators using deceptive marketing and offering free screenings. They reportedly submitted phony diagnoses to insurers to circumvent medical necessity requirements and used unqualified sonographers for tests across the country.

In one documented instance in 2024, Finkelstein allegedly certified test results for a teenage patient with a significantly enlarged heart just 11 seconds after accessing them. This patient later died on a basketball court. Mehmet Oz of CMS called the scheme predatory, stating it was dressed up in medical clothing.