Filipina accused of leading P52-B healthcare fraud network in US

NEW YORK — A Filipina nurse practitioner from Tuguegarao City is facing multiple federal charges in the United States for allegedly masterminding a massive healthcare fraud scheme that defrauded Medicare and TRICARE of nearly US$1 billion (about P51.6 billion).

Federal prosecutors accused Marizel Yukee, a Las Vegas resident, of targeting elderly and terminally ill patients, including those in hospice care, by allegedly providing medically unnecessary wound treatments and billing government healthcare programs for the services.

According to a federal indictment filed in Houston and obtained by GMA News, Yukee and her alleged co-conspirators submitted more than US$906 million (around P51.6 billion) in false claims between October 2023 and April 2026 and received approximately US$297 million (about P16.9 billion) in payments from Medicare and TRICARE.

Medicare is a U.S. federal health insurance program primarily for senior citizens aged 65 and older, younger persons with certain disabilities, and patients with end-stage kidney disease or ALS.

TRICARE, on the other hand, provides healthcare coverage for active-duty military personnel, retirees, National Guard and Reserve members, and their dependents.

U.S. prosecutors alleged that Yukee operated four wound-care clinics in Texas, Nevada, California and Hawaii, and paid illegal kickbacks to obtain patient referrals.

Authorities further alleged that Yukee falsified patient records, billed for medically unnecessary treatments, and received millions of dollars in kickbacks from allograft distributors.

The indictment said she used proceeds from the alleged scheme to bankroll a lavish lifestyle.

Prosecutors said this included luxury vehicles such as a Ferrari supercar worth more than US$500,000 (about P28.5 million), expensive jewelry including an US$865,000 (around P49.3 million) Bulgari necklace, a US$1 million (about P57 million) home in Hawaii, and the construction of a US$4.6 million (around P262.2 million) beach resort in Santa Ana, Cagayan in the Philippines.

Federal prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of numerous properties, vehicles, bank accounts and other assets allegedly linked to the fraud scheme.

Yukee has been charged with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and wire fraud, healthcare fraud, conspiracy to pay and receive illegal kickbacks, and money laundering. She is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, has issued a warrant for Yukee’s arrest.—MCG, GMA News