Alexandra Gehrke and Jeffrey King. Photo Credit: Scottsdale Progress
A shocking healthcare fraud case unfolding in Scottsdale serves as a stark reminder that even in our affluent community, vulnerable residents need protection from medical exploitation. Alexandra Gehrke and Jeffrey King, dubbed the “glam-flam couple,” admitted to fraudulently billing insurance companies over $1 billion, targeting some of our community’s most defenseless members.
The scale of this operation is staggering. The couple specifically targeted elderly Medicare patients, many terminally ill in hospice care, for medically unnecessary wound grafts, ultimately collecting over $600 million from Medicare and other healthcare programs. These weren’t victimless crimes; real people, facing their final days, became unwitting pawns in an elaborate scheme that prioritized profit over dignity.
What makes this particularly disturbing is how quickly it escalated. Starting at the end of 2022, Gehrke and King stole hundreds of millions in barely more than a year. They built an entire network of complicit healthcare workers, demonstrating how easily our healthcare system’s trust-based foundation can be exploited.
For Scottsdale families, this case offers crucial lessons. When elderly loved ones receive home health services or hospice care, oversight matters. Ask questions about treatments, understand billing statements, and be skeptical of providers pushing expensive procedures on vulnerable patients. The prosecution revealed that Gehrke wooed co-conspirators with promises of immediate riches and devised a business model that rewarded greed at the expense of patient care.
With Gehrke’s sentencing now scheduled for October 7 and King’s for October 10, prosecutors are recommending at least 20 years for Gehrke, calling it “one of the most financially impactful health care fraud schemes in American history”.
While our community waits for justice, we must commit to vigilance. Healthcare fraud thrives in silence and complacency. By staying informed and advocating for our vulnerable neighbors, we can help prevent future exploitation and ensure Scottsdale remains a community that truly cares for its most fragile members.