Dr. Salomon Melgen, an eye doctor, major Democratic donor, and friend of Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.), collected $20 million dollars from Medicare in 2012, the Washington Times reports.
Salomon Melgen’s practice charged the Medicare program for 37,075 injections of a macular degeneration drug to 645 different patients. The government paid him back at an average reimbursement of nearly $320 for each procedure, according to the records.
The figures were part of a massive release of data by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which disclosed detailed information on physician reimbursements in response to several Freedom of Information Act requests. The New York Times posted a searchable database of the records on its site, which disclosed the millions paid out to Dr. Melgen’s practice.
Early last year, the FBI raided Dr. Melgen’s Palm Beach office, drawing attention to his relationship with Mr. Menendez. Dr. Melgen and his family members have donated more than $400,000 to Mr. Mendendez’ campaigns or political causes since 1992.
Months later, agents from the Department of Health and Human Services raided the office again in connection with a reported Medicare billing probe.