Brooklynites Lose $600M Every Year To Health Care Fraud: FBI

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK -- Brooklyn loses about $600 million, more than any other county in New York State, to Medicare and Medicaid fraud every year, according to new FBI findings.

A new report from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand shows Brooklyn taxpayers lose an estimated $629,127,548 annually from New Yorkers who scam the system and doctors who scam their patients.

Embezzlers can potentially bilk millions from the system, according to officials prosecuting Farrah Rubani. The CEO of the Midwood-based health clinic Hopeton Care was recently charged with embezzling $11 million by billing Medicaid for children's home care which she did not provide.

FBI data shows such fraud costs New York City $2.2 billion every year, New York State $5 billion every year and the nation $80 billion, according to the senator's report.

Queens loses about $595 million, Manhattan losing about $485 million and The Bronx loses about $385 million, the report found.

In response, Adams announced Friday he will form a Senior Medicare Patrol to educate older Brooklynites on Medicare or Medicaid abuse in Brighton Beach, a neighborhood he said has particularly high rates of Medicaid and Medicare fraud.