Texas doctor charged in $89M fraud case as administration pushes health care crackdown

The Justice Department charged a Texas doctor on March 18, 2024, in an $89 million health care fraud scheme. Dr. Jason Finkelstein, 53, is accused of billing insurers for medically unnecessary cardiovascular screening tests for college student-athletes. Prosecutors allege Finkelstein rubber-stamped the test results as normal without proper review, exploiting fears of sudden cardiac arrest among athletes. The scheme, described as yearslong, involved conspiracy and health care fraud charges. This action aligns with the Biden-Harris administration's broader push to crack down on health care fraud, which the administration states costs American taxpayers billions of dollars annually. The administration has highlighted efforts to recover funds and prosecute individuals involved in fraudulent schemes within the healthcare sector.