Deceased Doctor Still Treating Patients?

Most people, once they have passed on, can no longer do earthly things, like treat patients. But one Hialeah, Florida clinic operator would probably like police to believe that Dr. Juan Julio Hernandez Pombo had returned from the grave to perform physical evaluations for PIP claims.

According to a Florida Department of Financial Services Press Release, the Chief Financial Officer for Florida, Jeff Atwater, announced that the Division of Insurance Fraud arrested Hialeah accident clinic operator Daysi Puigros on August 24^th. She was charged with more than 30 felony counts that stem from allegations that she filed over $200,000 in fraudulent Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claims using the name of the deceased doctor.

Puigros used her clinic, Better Life Medical Center LLC, to submit physical evaluations allegedly performed by Juan Julio Hernandez Pombo, a doctor who she knew had died.

She is charged with one count of operating a clinic without a license, one count of an organized scheme to defraud, 15 counts of insurance fraud, and 15 counts of third degree grand theft.

“I have no tolerance for masterminds of these types of egregious crimes,” said CFO Atwater.  “We need to look at tightening laws and reforming PIP in Florida so our citizens don’t have to foot the bill for these outrageous schemes.”

Puigros was the owner of the clinic from late 2007 until it was broken up in late 2009.  Sworn statements from employees of the clinic indicate that they knew the doctor had died, even though Puigros continued to use his name for reports and billing anyway, and also instructed the employees to do so.

Employees were also told that they needed to make patients sign blank forms which would then be fabricated by Puigros so they could be submitted for medical services that were never rendered.

The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) states that Puigros never applied for or received a license to operate the clinic, nor did she apply for a license with the Department of Health (DOH). It is a third degree felony to operate without a license.

Puigros was booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail and released after posting a $160,000 bond.