The investigation has thus far resulted in 53 convictions – 38 of them doctors – in what is believed to be the largest number of medical professionals ever prosecuted in a bribery case.
A Monmouth County doctor is the latest physician to trade in his white lab coat for a prison-issue orange jumpsuit in a sweeping bribery case that has taken down dozens of medical professionals practicing in New York and New Jersey.
According to federal prosecutors:
- Ralph Messo, MD, 56, of Colts Neck, New Jersey, was sentenced this month to two years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of accepting bribes in exchange for test referrals.
- The bribe was part of a long-running and elaborate scheme operated by now-defunct Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services LLC, of Parsippany, New Jersey, its president and numerous associates.
- Messo admitted he accepted bribes in return for referring patient blood specimens to BLS and was paid approximately $3,000 per month. Messo's referrals generated at least $828,000 in lab business for BLS.
- In addition to the prison time, Messo was sentenced to two years of supervised release and fined $4,000.
- The investigation has thus far resulted in 53 convictions – 38 of them doctors – in connection with the bribery scheme, which its organizers have admitted involved millions of dollars in bribes and resulted in more than $100 million in payments to BLS from Medicare and private insurance companies.
- The investigation has to date recovered more than $13 million through forfeiture. On June 28, 2016, BLS pleaded guilty and forfeited all of its assets. It is believed to be the largest number of medical professionals ever prosecuted in a bribery case.
John Commins is a content specialist and online news editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.