A Manhattan pharmacist was busted Thursday for defrauding Medicaid out of millions of dollars — and blowing the cash on luxury goods and plastic surgery, authorities said.
Hin Wong, 49, allegedly operated three pharmacies that paid kickbacks to patients to fill their HIV/AIDS prescriptions, which Medicaid reimburses at $2,000 a month, according to state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office.
Wong then auto-filled the prescriptions and billed Medicaid for them between July 2014 and August 2017, but never actually provided the pills, authorities said.
Undercover agents posing as patients were allegedly given cash payments to fill their prescriptions at NY Pharmacy at 131 Walker St. in Chinatown and at two other locations, which have since closed.
A financial audit allegedly revealed that the pharmacies did not purchase enough medication to support the $15 million for which they billed Medicaid and other insurers.
The AG’s Office also filed civil asset-forfeiture action against Wong, seeking $11 million-plus in damages.
They claim she spent the proceeds on travel, designer furniture, plastic surgery and shopping sprees at luxury stores, including Louis Vuitton and Prada.
Wong was arraigned Thursday in Manhattan Criminal Court on grand-larceny and other raps. Her bail was set at $500,000.