⏱ 2 min read
Dr. Feliciano Serrano, a physician at Serrano Kidney & Vascular Access Center in Huntington Park, California, has been accused of performing medically unnecessary procedures on Medicare patients from 2016 to 2024. The unnecessary procedures included dialysis access interventions and peripheral artery disease interventions, which were allegedly performed to bilk Medicare out of millions of dollars. The procedures, including angioplasty and stent placements, were often repeated on patients every few days or weeks, despite being ineffective and providing no clinical benefit.
One Medicare patient received approximately 42 stents in the dialysis segment between 2016 and 2023, including during a period when Dr. Serrano informed the patient he did not need dialysis. Another patient received approximately 16 atherectomies in his legs between 2019 and 2023. Dr. Serrano allegedly told patients that if they did not receive the procedure, their legs would need to be amputated, when in fact, there was little risk of amputation for mildly symptomatic peripheral artery disease.
The United States alleged that Dr. Serrano performed these unnecessary procedures to submit false claims to Medicare. As a result, Dr. Serrano and his medical practice have agreed to pay more than $6.73 million to resolve these allegations. The settlement is a result of the United States’ efforts to crack down on Medicare fraud and protect the integrity of the healthcare system.
The case highlights the importance of holding medical professionals accountable for their actions and ensuring that they do not take advantage of vulnerable patients for financial gain. The settlement serves as a warning to other medical professionals who may be engaging in similar fraudulent activities.
Related Federal Cases
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- Elizabeth Holmes, Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, California 2022 · Washington
- Federal Regulators, Lifel, Securities Fraud, California 2020 · Alabama
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: California
- Location: CA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
