Federal prosecutors say a New York doctor helped push over $6.8 million in fake Medicare claims by signing pre-filled brace prescriptions and billing for telemedicine visits that never happened.
Story Highlights
- A federal grand jury indicted Dr. Edgard Salazar for an alleged $6.8 million Medicare brace and telemedicine scheme.
- Prosecutors say he signed pre-filled brace orders and billed for thousands of consultations that never occurred.
- The telemedicine firm owner tied to the case pleaded guilty earlier and agreed to pay $17.9 million in restitution.
- Federal watchdogs have warned that off-the-shelf braces are a high-risk area for improper payments.
Indictment Alleges False Brace Prescriptions And Phantom Visits
The Department of Justice announced that a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida charged Dr. Edgard Salazar, 57, of Armonk, New York, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. Prosecutors allege he helped submit more than $6.8 million in false Medicare claims. They say he signed pre-filled prescriptions for orthotic braces through TelevisitMD for patients he did not examine and sometimes never spoke with at all.
The indictment says some beneficiaries told Salazar they did not want or need braces, yet orders still went through. Prosecutors also allege Salazar billed Medicare for telemedicine consultations he did not perform and joined a plan to bill for thousands of visits that never occurred. The Justice Department noted that the case remains at the indictment stage and that an indictment is an allegation, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
TelevisitMD Owner’s Prior Guilty Plea Frames The Case
Officials linked the charges to TelevisitMD, which prosecutors describe as a hub for pre-filled brace orders. The government says the system enabled quick signatures without real exams. In March 2026, TelevisitMD owner Christopher Harwood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and agreed to pay $17.9 million in restitution. That plea supports the broader scheme’s outline, while Salazar’s individual guilt will be decided in court.
This pattern matches prior federal telemedicine crackdowns. Past Justice Department case summaries describe marketers who recruit seniors, clinicians who generate orders without real medical need, and suppliers who rush claims for off-the-shelf braces. Those cases often involve high claim volumes, short calls, and cookie-cutter paperwork that fails Medicare rules for medical necessity and documentation.
Medicare’s Brace Program Remains A Known Fraud Target
The Medicare program has long labeled orthotic braces as a high-risk category for waste and abuse. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General reviewed braces from 2018 to 2020 and reported average improper payment rates of 71 percent across five audited suppliers, with an estimated $16.7 million in overpayments. That risk picture explains why federal agents keep focusing on telemedicine-and-brace networks like the one described here.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rules require braces to be medically necessary and properly documented. Medicare does not pay for items that are not reasonable and necessary. When clinicians sign orders without exams, or when patient files lack support, claims can be false even if a supplier ships a real product. Telemedicine is lawful, but it must include a real evaluation and records to back the need for the device.
Why This Matters For Seniors, Taxpayers, And Honest Doctors
Every fake claim drains funds meant for seniors’ real care. Taxpayers pay more when sham orders flood the system, and seniors can face confusion, unwanted devices, and follow-up hassles. Honest doctors and suppliers also lose when bad actors undercut trust in telehealth and durable medical equipment. Federal enforcement under President Trump continues to stress accountability for anyone who exploits seniors or the public purse in Medicare programs.
New York Doctor Charged in $6.8 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme https://t.co/97hT1MF2jG
— 🌺🌿kam🌿🌺 (@pjkate) November 13, 2026
Next steps include court proceedings on the charges against Salazar. Prosecutors will need records, patient testimony, and platform logs to prove the claims. The court will test whether the orders lacked medical need and whether billed visits occurred. If the government proves its case, this prosecution will mark another strike against the brace-and-telemedicine fraud model that watchdogs have warned about for years.
