Group of NFL Players Including Clinton Portis Charged with Health Care Fraud

Published by Matt Fishman on

Clinton Portis and five other retired NFL players have been charged for their “roles in a nationwide fraud on a health care benefit program for retired NFL players”.

The indictment alleges that Portis and the other retired players filed “over $3.9 million in false and fraudulent claims” with the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan. The plan provides for “tax-free reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical care expenses… incurred by former players, their wives and their dependents”.

As part of their fraudulent scheme, the former NFL players submitted false claims for expensive medical equipment such as cryotherapy machines and ultrasound machines, that was never actually purchased.

If found guilty, each individual faces up to 20 years in prison, in addition to forfeiture of assets of an amount equal to the fraudulent claims.