Image of one of the COVID-19 testing events the defendant managed and advertised to the residents’ country club managers. {Southern District of Florida}
A Coral Springs laboratory executive was convicted of Medicare fraud after organizing COVID-19 testing events where elderly patients received unnecessary blood tests that generated more than $15 million in Medicare claims, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Joseph Rodriguez, 58, a testing laboratory vice president who also owned and operated the marketing company Phoenix Health, was found guilty by a federal jury in the Southern District of Florida of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts of health care fraud.
According to court documents and trial evidence, Rodriguez organized drive-through testing events at residential country clubs in the West Palm Beach area for patients seeking COVID-19 nasal swab and antibody tests during the pandemic.
Patients also received dozens or even hundreds of additional blood tests they did not request or need, prosecutors said. Those tests included hormone screenings and tests for heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, and cadmium.
No doctor had ordered the additional tests as required, according to the Justice Department. Nevertheless, Medicare received claims portraying them as medically necessary and ordered by a treating physician.
Prosecutors said Rodriguez promoted the events, directed staff to draw extra blood and caused a doctor’s name to be fraudulently listed on Medicare claims.
The scheme involved nearly 2,000 patients at nine clubs over approximately four months. Medicare was billed more than $15 million and paid more than $500,000, authorities said.
Trial evidence included complaints sent to Rodriguez by patients, questions from club managers about the additional testing and a complaint from a doctor whose name had been used to bill Medicare thousands of dollars.
“This guilty verdict holds Joseph Rodriguez accountable for his role in a scheme that exploited patients and fraudulently billed Medicare for millions of dollars,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles said.
Rodriguez faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on each count. Sentencing is expected in January 2027, with the court to set a date. A federal judge will determine his sentence after considering federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
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