In a recent development, David Santana, the owner of Conclave Media (Conclave) and Nationwide Health Advocates (Nationwide), has pleaded guilty to a $44 million Medicare fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME), including orthotics such as back and knee braces, and genetic tests.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, between January 2018 and August 2021, Santana, through his companies Conclave and Nationwide, entered into business relationships with telemarketing companies that targeted Medicare beneficiaries.
These telemarketing companies then paid Conclave and Nationwide on a per-order basis to generate orders for DME and genetic testing for these beneficiaries.
Santana worked with medical staffing companies to find doctors and nurses who were willing to review and sign prepopulated orders, typically without any contact with the beneficiaries.
Source: Boston Area Telemedicine Tycoon Pleads Guilty to $44 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme / hoodline