Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and widely known as Dr. Oz, has accused several Cuban immigrants of orchestrating fraudulent schemes against the U.S. public healthcare system. He claims they have illicitly acquired millions of dollars and subsequently fled to Cuba with the funds.
In an interview with Fox News, Oz emphasized that this fraud is being "instrumentalized" and often involves foreign nationals. "We cannot allow this to persist," he stressed, highlighting how these irregularities negatively impact resources meant for providing medical equipment—such as wheelchairs and canes—to American patients.
In response to these issues, CMS has enforced a six-month nationwide moratorium on the approval of new durable medical equipment suppliers in the United States.
Oz noted that many of the companies under investigation, a significant number of which are owned by Cuban citizens, billed Medicare for equipment that was never delivered. Instead of supplying these devices, they allegedly stole beneficiary numbers and set up fake companies to siphon off public funds.
"They are fraudulently billing five million dollars in a month for non-existent equipment. Then they flee to Cuba. By the time we try to recover the money, it has already been transferred overseas," Oz complained.
The use of the term "instrumentalized," according to Oz, suggests potential foreign coordination, though he did not provide public evidence of direct involvement by the Cuban government.
Simultaneously, President Donald Trump announced this week that Vice President JD Vance will spearhead a "war against fraud" in federal programs. Vance stated that billions of dollars intended for American citizens are being diverted through fraudulent schemes associated with immigrants in various states.
So far, authorities have not released detailed official figures regarding the number of companies tied to Cuban nationals or the total amount allegedly diverted.
Key Questions about Medicare Fraud and Cuban Nationals
What actions has CMS taken to prevent further fraud?
CMS has imposed a six-month nationwide moratorium on approving new suppliers of durable medical equipment to prevent further fraudulent activities.
Who is leading the efforts to combat fraud in federal programs?
Vice President JD Vance is leading the initiative to combat fraud across federal programs, as announced by President Donald Trump.
How are fraudulent schemes affecting Medicare resources?
Fraudulent schemes are diverting funds that are meant to supply essential medical equipment to American patients, impacting the availability of resources.