NYC Doctor Pays $500K To Settle Medicare Fraud Claims: Feds

BROOKLYN, NY — A doctor recently accused of over-diluting COVID-19 vaccines to maximize profits reached a $500,000 settlement over allegations that he defrauded Medicare, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

Dr. Josef Schenker, affiliated with Park Slope's Methodist Hospital, routinely billed the national health insurance programs for examinations he never conducted, contends the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn.

"In billing for medical services that were not provided to patients receiving COVID-19 vaccines and tests, Dr. Schenker exploited the pandemic for his own personal benefit," said U. S. Attorney Breon Peace.

Schenker agreed to pay a $564,217.70 settlement to resolve claims the doctor committed federal health care fraud at his urgent care centers, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Schenker also serves as medical director at Centers Urgent Care, a healthcare company a whistleblower recently accused of over-diluting COVID-19 vaccine doses to amp up profits.

Reached for comment, Centers Urgent Care declined to answer questions about the Justice department settlement at the time of this article's publication.

New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and SeniorCare EMS, where Schenker is seemingly a medical director, did not respond immediately to Patch's request for comment.

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