Missouri Man Sentenced for $174M Medicare Genetic Testing Fraud Scheme

Jamie P. McNamara, a Missouri resident, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for orchestrating a large-scale Medicare fraud scheme involving aggressive telemarketing tactics to bill hundreds of millions of dollars in claims for cancer and cardiovascular genetic testing. He operated labs in Louisiana and Texas, where genetic testing orders were signed by telemedicine doctors who neither treated nor consulted with patients. Illegal kickbacks and disguised sham contracts were used to secure these orders, while billing was shifted among his labs to evade detection by Medicare and law enforcement. Additionally, McNamara concealed his ownership by listing family members on official documents. Over approximately 18 months, his labs submitted claims totaling over $174 million to Medicare, receiving over $55 million in reimbursements. The government has seized luxury assets worth millions linked to McNamara. He was detained after violating bond conditions during pretrial release and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. This case was investigated by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the FBI, with prosecution led by the Justice Department's Criminal Division Fraud Section and U.S. Attorney's Office. The Fraud Section coordinates nationwide efforts through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force, which has charged thousands since 2007 for defrauding federal and private health programs. Concurrently, other health care fraud cases resulted in significant sentences, including a Michigan pharmacist and Arizona company owners involved in fraudulent billing schemes. These enforcement actions underscore ongoing federal efforts to hold providers accountable and protect Medicare integrity.