LATEST
Corruption Files
Medical stethoscope and legal documents
Medical Fraud

Florida Doctor Pleads Guilty in Multi-Million Dollar Telehealth Fraud Scheme

By

Dr. Mark Grinshteyn, 58, a Florida-licensed osteopathic physician, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud for his role in a $72 million telehealth fraud scheme.

Grinshteyn admitted that between 2020 and 2024, he approved more than 35,000 orders for expensive genetic tests and durable medical equipment β€” including power wheelchairs and hospital beds β€” without ever examining patients or reviewing medical records. He was paid $150 per order by telemedicine marketing companies that recruited patients through online ads.

Prosecutors said Grinshteyn approved orders for patients in all 50 states, many of whom had no medical need for the equipment. Medicare and private insurers paid approximately $72 million based on his orders. Grinshteyn personally earned over $5 million.

Sentencing scheduled for July

Under the plea agreement, Grinshteyn faces up to 10 years in prison and has agreed to forfeit $5.2 million, including his Miami Beach condominium. He also surrendered his medical license permanently. Sentencing is scheduled for July 15.

Seven other defendants β€” including telemarketing company owners and two other physicians β€” have also pleaded guilty in the same scheme. 'Dr. Grinshteyn abandoned the most basic duties of his profession for profit,' said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe.

Dr. Grinshteyn abandoned the most basic duties of his profession for profit. He signed orders for patients he never met, for tests they never needed.

β€” U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe

The case is part of a broader federal crackdown on telehealth fraud, which has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic expanded remote care flexibilities. The DOJ has charged over 150 individuals in such cases since 2023.

Mirror Standard β€” Investigative Journalism
Ruth Anselmi β€” author photo
About Author

Ruth trained as a pharmacist and then spent a decade watching the gap between clinical trial data and real-world outcomes grow wider every year. She left the industry after a whistleblower case she had quietly supported was settled out of court under a non-disclosure agreement. Her reporting cuts through press releases and FDA approval language to ask the questions that should have been asked before the drug reached the shelf.

SubstackMedium

Related posts