The Nassau County Police Department Asset Forfeiture Unit reports the details of Operation RX Hammer, an investigation into an alleged healthcare fraud scheme that occurred in Nassau County.
According to detectives, RNJ Pharmacy, Inc. of Freeport and Jericho Express Rx, Inc. of Floral Park were involved in a healthcare fraud scheme involving approximately $8 million in pharmaceutical billing and approximately $5 million in payments received. According to the investigation, both pharmacies submitted claims for high-cost prescription medications. A large portion of the billing involved Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance. Claims were submitted without the knowledge or consent of the prescribing physicians or intended beneficiaries and the medications associated with the claims were never dispensed.
The investigation was conducted by detectives with the assistance of the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Diversion Control Division (DEA), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) and the New York State Comptroller’s Division of Investigations.
RNJ Pharmacy, Inc. is charged with Healthcare Fraud 2nd Degree, Grand Larceny 2nd Degree and three counts of Identity Theft 1st Degree.
Jericho Express Rx, Inc. is charged with Healthcare Fraud 2nd Degree, Grand Larceny 2nd Degree and two counts of Identity Theft 1st Degree.
The Nassau County Police Department will be forming the PHANTOM Task Force to combat similar schemes involving pharmacy fraud, fraudulent pharmaceutical billing and identity theft.
Operation RX Hammer highlights the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts to investigate healthcare fraud, protect patients and healthcare programs, and hold those responsible for alleged criminal activity accountable.