Those arrested include 10 doctors, nurses, and Medicare recipients
In a coordinated effort that was the largest single Medicare Fraud strike force take-down to date, 91 people were arrested this week for a Medicare fraud scheme totaling $295 million dollars.
The services involved included durable medical equipment, physical and occupational therapy, mental health services, psychotherapy, HIV infusion and home health care. The coordinated action took place in eight cities, including Miami, Houston, Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas and Brooklyn.
Those arrested include nurses, physicians, other medication professionals and various providers. They face charges of conspiracy to defraud Medicare, health care fraud, violations of the anti-kickback law and money laundering.
The arrests drew praise from the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, of which At Home Care Solution is a member.
“We agree that our policy must be zero tolerance for those who would steal from the public purse and thus undermine the care being provided to aged and inform, disabled and dying Americans,” NAHC President Val J. Halamandaris said in a written release.
According to court documents, the defendants allegedly participated in schemes to submit claims to Medicare for treatments that were never provided or for treatments that were not medically necessary. Documents show that patient recruiters, Medicare beneficiaries and others were paid cash kickbacks in return for supplying information that could be used to submit the false claims.
“The health care system is part of our nation’s infrastructure and we must do everything in our power to protect the integrity of Medicare and the system at large,” said FBI Executive Assistant Director Henry. “Working together as partners, we can stop criminals who seek to steal American taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars and we help ensure our nation’s health care system is there for those who need it.”
Since it’s start in 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, a joint-operation among government agencies and law enforcement, has uncovered nearly $3 billion in Medicare Fraud.
To read more about the investigation and arrests, visit the US Health and Human Services website. Contact At Home Nursing Care for more information on hospice care in San Diego or Los Angeles.