Paul Wexler of Texas and Paul Bleignier of Florida have been sentenced to four years and two years in prison, respectively, in connection with a $17.3 million Medicare fraud scheme involving unnecessary genetic testing. Wexler and Bleignier operated a telemarketing company that solicited Medicare beneficiaries for cancer genetic testing, and they received kickbacks for testing referrals that were ineligible for Medicare reimbursement, prosecutors said.

Tampa, Fla.-based VRA Enterprises, which does business as Precision Rx, has agreed to pay $17 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false Medicare claims for COVID-19 tests. The pharmacy did not provide the tests to beneficiaries or shipped them months after billing Medicare, leading to around 136,491 in false claims, authorities said.

Patients Choice Laboratories has agreed to pay $9.62 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute. The settlement resolves claims that the laboratory paid an infection prevention company to collect specimens and used the specimens to bill Medicare for unnecessary pathogen panels. The lab also is accused of paying commissions to sales representatives and marketing firms based on the value or volume of referrals.

Many Americans are turning to AI for medical questions, driven by a frustration with the traditional medical system and AI's 24/7 availability and ease of use. In 2024, 1 in 6 US adults used chatbots to find health information at least once a month, according to a survey from KFF. The New York Times documented dozens of interviews in which people described their experiences using chatbots for medical information or advice.