CDA physician indicted in Medicare fraud conspiracy

The Department of Justice recently announced that a grand jury returned an indictment charging Dr. David Antonio Becerril, 67, Coeur d’Alene, and formerly of Selah, Wash., with 16 counts of conspiracy, fraud and false statements in connection with Becerril’s participation in a telemarketing health care fraud scheme.

According to the indictment, between February 2018 and September 2019, Becerril, a licensed Washington physician, participated in a scheme and conspiracy to obtain millions of dollars by falsely billing Medicare for medically-unnecessary genetic tests and durable medical equipment, including back, knee, shoulder and ankle braces.

The indictment alleges that Becerril signed false and fraudulent orders for genetic tests and braces for elderly Medicare beneficiaries that Becerril was not treating, and with whom he never spoke or interacted, according to a press release.

The charges against Becerril carry maximum sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison.