State and federal agencies combined in an investigation involving two medical company owners, three physicians, three licensed physical and occupational therapists and a chiropractor. The New York Office of the Medicaid Inspector General teamed up with an assortment of law enforcement offices in uncovering $125 million in alleged Medicaid and Medicare fraud, the office stated.
OMIG and the Medicaid Strike Force worked with the FBI and Department of Justice to file charges against 10 people for fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid billing.
Among those facing health care fraud charges are a Jamaica, New York, cardiologist who apparently submitted $3.7 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare Part B and was the attending physician for more than $7.4 million in similarly illegitimate claims to Medicare Part A.
The owner of a Brooklyn diagnostic services company is accused of fraudulently billing Medicare and insurers for more than $13 million in testing services.
Acting United States Attorney Bridget Rohde said the defendants “took advantage of programs designed to provide essential healthcare for the elderly and the needy,”
The Jamaica doctor allegedly made illegal payments for patient referrals and submitted multiple false million-dollar claims to Medicaid and Medicare, an FBI spokesperson said.
The cardiologist is accused of “violating the Anti-Kickback Statute by paying other physicians for patient referrals to his practice.” A statement from the Department of Justice claims that some doctors who worked with him “covertly recorded him discussing paying for patient referrals.”
Those facing possible investigation and criminal or administrative sanctions can contact Rivas Goldstein, LLP, of New York City to discuss legal representation.
