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The administration of President Donald Trump has intensified its accusations regarding a web of massive fraud within the U.S. public health system, directly pointing to the possible involvement of the Cuban regime in operations detected in South Florida.
During an interview on Fox Business, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Mehmet Oz, stated that there are indications of foreign governmental involvement in fraudulent schemes that affect publicly funded programs.
Oz explained that these networks do not operate in isolation, but rather as organized structures with international connections.
In that context, he stated that in South Florida, "we believe the Cuban government is involved," referring to the high number of suspicious suppliers within the system.
The official described an alarming pattern in that region, where the number of durable medical equipment suppliers far exceeds that of comparable legitimate businesses, which, in their view, indicates an artificial proliferation linked to fraudulent activities.
According to the details provided, one of the most common mechanisms involves using Medicare and Medicaid beneficiary numbers to bill for products that are never delivered.
The companies involved fake non-existent shipments, eliminating operational costs and generating millions of dollars in false claims against the federal system.
These practices, he explained, do not require real infrastructure: there are no inventories, no employees, and no verifiable operations, which makes the rapid expansion of these networks easier and hinders their detection.
Oz also warned that the problem transcends Florida and is part of a broader nationwide phenomenon.
In cities like Los Angeles, it was noted that hundreds of hospices could be involved in fraudulent schemes, some of which are allegedly linked to foreign criminal organizations.
In this regard, he mentioned the possible involvement of Russian mafias in California and suggested that in other areas like New York, there could be connections with actors linked to the Chinese government, which reinforces the hypothesis of an international fraud network against the U.S. healthcare system.
Nevertheless, Florida's case stands out due to the repeated references to the Cuban regime, which adds a political and national security dimension to the investigation.
Federal authorities believe that these operations may be taking advantage of the geographical proximity and migration dynamics in the southern part of the state to facilitate the scheme.
According to prior information cited by Martí Noticias, Dr. Oz had already warned about the "out of control" nature of fraud in the Miami area and had requested specific data from state authorities about the measures taken to combat these practices.
The complaints are part of a broader offensive by the Trump Administration to strengthen oversight of public spending and curb the misuse of social programs, amid a context where health fraud has become an increasing concern for federal authorities.
The direct reference to the Cuban regime introduces a new element in the bilateral relationship, linking Havana not only with political or migration issues but also with potential illegal operations that directly affect American taxpayers.
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