Suffolk Doctor Charged in $900K Lab Testing Scam: AG

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY - A Suffolk doctor has been arrested for running a lab testing scam, New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood said Monday.

Edwardo M. Yambo, 70, of Lake Grove, as well as his company, Edwardo Yambo, P.C., was charged with second degree grand larceny, the AG said.

Between January 2012 and November 2016, Yambo allegedly stole $939,000 from the New York Medicaid program and New York Medicaid managed care organizations by submitting and asking others to submit false claims to Medicaid, according to the AG.

Those claims falsely stated that his laboratory had rendered certain drug testing services when it did not, and that it performed services that were not medically necessary, according to the AG.

In addition, Yambo is accused of operating his laboratory without a laboratory director, which is required under state and federal regulations to ensure that the lab is properly operated, the AG said.

Prior to his arrest, Yambo surrendered his controlled substance prescribing privileges to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Tactical Diversion Squad, the attorney general said.

Yambo was arraigned on Monday at Suffolk County First District Court before Judge Gaetan Lozito. The case was adjourned to December 5.

If convicted, Yambo faces significant prison time and possible revocation of his license to practice medicine and mandatory exclusion from participating in the Medicaid and Medicare programs.

"Billing New York’s Medicaid program for unnecessary or made-up procedures amounts to stealing from New York taxpayers, while wasting critical resources on which our most vulnerable neighbors depend," Underwood said. "Doctors have a special duty to ensure the quality of care provided to their patients, and my office will continue to investigate and prosecute those who betray that trust in order to line their pockets."

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