A Georgia chiropractor, Teflyon Cameron, was sentenced on March 3 to 43 months in prison for her involvement in a $14.9 million health care fraud and illegal kickback conspiracy, according to Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address fraudulent schemes that target Medicare and other health insurers. Such schemes can undermine the integrity of health care programs intended to serve patients.
Cameron, age 59 and from Powder Springs, Georgia, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court to charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback statute. According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, Cameron conspired over several years with others to submit claims for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME) and cancer genetic tests (CGx), resulting in more than $14.9 million in losses to Medicare. Cameron personally received over $1.3 million from the fraudulent activities.
Authorities said Cameron and her co-conspirators owned or had financial interests in DME companies that obtained doctors’ orders for orthotic braces without regard for medical necessity. They used marketing call centers and telemedicine companies as part of their operation, submitted false claims to Medicare, and paid illegal kickbacks. Additionally, they operated a CGx company through which they provided leads of eligible beneficiaries for cancer genetic testing services, disguising kickback payments through sham agreements with clinical laboratories.
Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello said: “This defendant built a business model around fraud—using kickbacks, sham arrangements, and medically unnecessary equipment to siphon millions from Medicare. Health care programs exist to serve patients, not to bankroll schemes like this one. Today’s sentence holds her accountable and underscores that those who abuse our federal health care system for profit will face serious consequences.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; and the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service Northeast Field Office.
