Four pharmacies to pay $4.6 million in federal Medicare & Medicaid fraud settlements

By THE STAR STAFF

Four pharmacies in Puerto Rico and their owners have agreed to pay a combined $4.6 million to settle federal allegations that they defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by dispensing diverted prescription drugs falsely represented as legitimately sourced. The conduct occurred between January 2021 and January 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.

Federal authorities recovered more than $4.1 million between Feb. 26 and May 28 of this year as part of the civil penalties. Prosecutors said the pharmacies billed federal health programs for medications whose origins could not be verified, a practice that threatens patient safety and violates program requirements that drugs be obtained only from approved distributors. Diverted medications may be mishandled or improperly stored, potentially compromising their effectiveness.

The settlements involve four establishments: Farmacia Unity in Aibonito, Farmacia La Rampla in Yabucoa, and Farmacia Monte Verde and Farmacia Santa Olaya, both in Bayamón. Their respective owners -- Raúl Morera and Enid Rivera; Edwin Gómez; María T. Rivera and Valerie Cintrón; and Jaime Figueroa -- agreed to pay penalties ranging from $600,000 to $2 million. Three of the pharmacies have already paid their full amounts, while Farmacia Unity has paid a portion of its obligation.

Federal officials emphasized that the settlements resolve only the allegations and that no determination of liability has been made.