Nassau pharmacies charged in alleged $8M health care fraud scheme
Sophia Chen is a dedicated education reporter with a background in teaching, having earned her Master’s in Education from Columbia University. With a focus on the Garden City School District, she previously reported for the New York Times’ local section, bringing a teacher's perspective to her coverage.
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Two Long Island pharmacies are facing criminal charges in an alleged health care fraud scheme involving approximately $8 million in prescription drug claims and $5 million in payments, according to Nassau County police. The Nassau County Police Department announced the charges Oct. 29 following an investigation dubbed Operation RX Hammer, which focused on alleged fraudulent pharmaceutical billing involving two pharmacies in Nassau County. Detectives alleged that RNJ Pharmacy Inc. of Freeport and Jericho Express Rx Inc. of Floral Park submitted claims for high-cost prescription medications without the knowledge or consent of the prescribing physicians or intended beneficiaries. The medications associated with the claims were never dispensed, police said. A large portion of the approximately $8 million in billing involved Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance, according to investigators. The pharmacies allegedly received approximately $5 million in payments. RNJ Pharmacy I