Jamie P. McNamara, 49, from Kansas City, Missouri, has admitted to running a massive Medicare fraud scheme that cost the government tens of millions. In court, McNamara pleaded guilty to orchestrating a conspiracy involving fake genetic testing claims submitted to Medicare over an 18-month period.
Authorities say McNamara and his businesses submitted more than $174 million in fraudulent claims, with Medicare paying out over $55 million before the scam was uncovered. He operated labs in Louisiana and Texas, using them as fronts for the scheme. Instead of providing legitimate medical services, the labs worked with call centers and telemarketers who pressured Medicare recipients into agreeing to genetic tests they didn’t need.
The scam relied heavily on telemedicine providers who never evaluated or even spoke with patients. McNamara paid them bribes and kickbacks to sign off on test requests, disguising the payments through fake contracts to make them appear legitimate.
To avoid detection, McNamara cycled billing through different labs and constantly changed business names and ownership records, often listing family members as company representatives. These tactics allowed him to continue profiting while hiding his role.
Investigators seized luxury vehicles and over $7 million in bank accounts linked to the fraud. Federal officials emphasized the real damage caused by scams like this—misleading vulnerable patients, wasting taxpayer money, and undermining trust in the health care system.
The case was led by the FBI, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Justice, who described it as part of a broader campaign to stop health care fraud.
While out on pretrial release, McNamara violated court orders. He removed his ankle monitor after a DUI arrest and fled, which resulted in his detention until sentencing. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 9 and faces up to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to the Justice Department, more than 5,800 individuals have been charged with health care fraud since 2007, with losses totaling over $30 billion. McNamara’s case is a stark example of how one person’s actions can exploit a system designed to help those in need.
