The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has accused the Cuban government of orchestrating a fraudulent network involving durable medical equipment through shell companies in South Florida, designed to scam Medicare and Medicaid.
In a statement shared by the American healthcare advocacy group MAHA Action on X, RFK Jr. detailed the intricate fraud operation: companies posing as suppliers of wheelchairs and knee braces that, in reality, sell nothing and exist solely to bill the federal government for non-existent products.
"There's a whole criminal network run by the Cuban government, selling extremely low-quality medical equipment. These so-called companies supposedly sell wheelchairs and knee braces but only have a list of patients to bill Medicaid," declared the Secretary of Health and Human Services during the Trump administration.
He also disclosed the alleged presence of logistics and infrastructure backing this fraudulent scheme. "We discovered a hotel with 129 rooms, each owned by a different durable medical equipment company," he stated.
"There are twice as many durable medical equipment companies in South Korea as there are McDonald's outlets, and most don't sell anything. They are just there to rip off the federal government," the secretary lamented, criticizing the Biden administration's budget cuts, which he claims undermine the oversight of government healthcare programs.
RFK Jr.'s allegations add to recent warnings from sector officials. The Medicare administrator had previously suggested a possible Cuban government connection, pointing to a coordinated operation from the island.
Past investigations had already uncovered specific instances of such fraud. One notable case revealed a network billing five million dollars monthly for non-existent equipment before fleeing to Cuba, highlighting the problem's scope and the impunity with which the perpetrators operated.
In reaction to these fraud schemes, the Trump administration enacted a six-month nationwide moratorium on approving new durable medical equipment providers to curb the proliferation of shell companies.
This issue is not new. Back in 2009, federal authorities dismantled a network of 85 fake medical equipment companies linked to Cuban exiles, showing that this type of fraud has been entrenched in South Florida for decades.
Convictions for these crimes continue to pile up in U.S. courts. Fernando Espinosa León was sentenced to five years in prison in March 2025 for his role in one of these fraudulent billing schemes.
Another recent case involved Julián López, who received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence in May 2025 after being found guilty of defrauding tens of millions of dollars from the federal healthcare system.
RFK Jr.'s accusations are part of a broader Trump administration initiative to tighten oversight of public spending and curb the misuse of social programs, as healthcare fraud becomes a growing concern for federal authorities.
The direct accusation against the Cuban regime introduces a new dimension to bilateral relations, linking Havana not only to political or migratory issues but also to potential illicit operations that directly impact American taxpayers.
Implications of Cuban-Linked Healthcare Fraud
What is the alleged role of the Cuban government in the fraud scheme?
The Cuban government is accused of directing a network of shell companies in South Florida to fraudulently bill Medicare and Medicaid for non-existent durable medical equipment.
How has the U.S. government responded to these fraud allegations?
In response, the Trump administration implemented a six-month moratorium on the approval of new durable medical equipment providers to combat the spread of shell companies.
What are some notable cases of this type of fraud?
Significant cases include a network billing five million dollars monthly for fake equipment and individuals like Fernando Espinosa León and Julián López receiving prison sentences for their roles in similar schemes.