Penis-pump scammers accused of bilking Medicare

By The Associated Press
Published: August 17, 2010
Updated: August 18, 2010 - 9:41 AM

HIALEAH --

An indictment shows two South Florida companies bilked Medicare on penis-pump sales, part of $2 million in bogus billings on medical equipment.

Charlie RX and Happy Trips of Hialeah together billed $63,000 for the $395 pumps intended only for men. According to charges unsealed Monday in federal court in Miami, the federal health care program paid the medical-equipment providers over $28,000. Among the payments were phony claims for four pumps for a single female patient.

In February, two men who ran the companies were indicted on charges of health care fraud.

Last week, two others who authorities say were in hiding were arrested in connection with the scam. Both are accused of stealing Medicare patients' numbers and doctors' identifications to submit bogus bills.