The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Wednesday dismissing allegations made by U.S. government officials that accuse the Cuban regime of potentially orchestrating large-scale Medicare fraud in South Florida. The ministry labeled these accusations as "libel."
The statement was posted on Cuban social media channels as a direct rebuttal to recent remarks from high-ranking members of the Trump administration. It asserts that "recent statements from U.S. government officials speculate, without any evidence, that the Cuban government could be involved in Medicare fraud in South Florida." The ministry further described these claims as another "libel promoted by anti-Cuban sectors in the United States."
Going further, the Cuban regime stated, "The U.S. government officials cited for this libel are knowingly spreading falsehoods." The accusations prompting this response were made by two senior officials from the Trump administration.
Last Saturday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, alleged that a criminal network, led by the Cuban government, sells substandard medical equipment through shell companies charging Medicaid without delivering any products. Kennedy also disclosed the discovery of a hotel with 129 rooms, each registered to a different durable medical equipment company lacking actual inventory.
On the previous Friday, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, warned on Fox News that South Florida has twice as many durable medical equipment providers as McDonald's restaurants, suggesting potential Cuban government involvement.
In its defense, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) acknowledged that Cuba has prosecuted individuals within its borders connected to Medicare fraud. It claims to have shared information with Washington through bilateral mechanisms concerning individuals associated with financial crimes.
Nevertheless, the statement criticized the U.S. authorities for not reciprocating in cooperation efforts. "As a rule, there has been no reciprocal conduct from U.S. authorities," the statement read.
Historical Context of Fraud
The history of Medicare fraud in South Florida involving Cuban individuals has been extensively documented for decades. In 2009, authorities dismantled a network of 85 fake medical equipment companies linked to Cuban exiles.
In 2013, the FBI identified 54 fugitives wanted for Medicare fraud, 26 of whom were reportedly in Cuba. More recent cases include the sentencing of Fernando Espinosa León to nearly six years in prison in March 2025 for a fraud exceeding $7.6 million. Additionally, Edelberto Borges Morales, a businessman from Hialeah, was arrested the same month while attempting to flee to Varadero after laundering $2 million from a $41 million fraud scheme.
In response to the escalating situation, the Trump administration has implemented a six-month nationwide moratorium on approving new durable medical equipment providers and launched the CRUSH initiative, which uses artificial intelligence to detect fraud in real-time. This comes amid estimated annual Medicare and Medicaid losses of $300 billion.
The Cuban government concluded its statement by reiterating "its willingness to jointly address transnational crimes originating in the U.S. through the timely exchange of information," effectively shifting the blame for the issue onto U.S. soil.
Frequently Asked Questions about Medicare Fraud Allegations
What are the recent allegations against the Cuban government regarding Medicare fraud?
Recent allegations from U.S. officials accuse the Cuban regime of orchestrating large-scale Medicare fraud in South Florida, using shell companies to sell substandard medical equipment and charge Medicaid without delivering products.
How has the Cuban government responded to these allegations?
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement calling the accusations "libel" and claims to have shared information with the U.S. on individuals involved in financial crimes, while criticizing the lack of reciprocal cooperation from U.S. authorities.
What measures is the U.S. taking in response to Medicare fraud?
The Trump administration has initiated a six-month moratorium on new durable medical equipment providers and launched the CRUSH initiative, which employs artificial intelligence to detect Medicare and Medicaid fraud in real-time.