submitting false claims to the government

Texas Doctor Charged With Faking Diagnoses in $240 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On May 14, 2018, a Texas doctor was arrested on charges he led a $240 million health care fraud and money laundering scheme. He allegedly falsely diagnosed at least 16 patients with degenerative diseases and gave them unneeded chemotherapy and other treatments.

Fake Diagnoses and Treatments.

The doctor allegedly bilked Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, Blue Cross Blue Shield and others through a scheme in which he would falsely diagnose patients with diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. According to the indictment, he would then give them treatments […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:24-04:00July 5, 2018|The Health Law Firm Blog|

Florida Substance Abuse Center Owner Gets 27 Years for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On May 17, 2017, a Florida man who pled guilty to running a health care fraud scheme out of substance abuse treatment facilities he owned was sentenced to 27 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks, handed down the sentence to Kenneth Chatman who pled guilty in March 2017 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of sex trafficking conspiracy.

Chatman admitted making millions of dollars by taking bribes and kickbacks to treat patients, fraudulently billing insurance companies and providing drugs to addicts so they […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:26-04:00May 15, 2018|Health Facilities Law Blog|

Former Oral Surgeon Gets House Arrest for Defrauding Medicaid

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On July 14, 2016, a former oral surgeon in Oklahoma was sentenced to six months’ house arrest for fraudulently billing Medicaid for anesthesia services that were performed by unlicensed dental assistants. W. Scott Harrington, whose dental practice led to thousands of patients’ being tested for HIV and Hepatitis, pled guilty in April 2016 to money laundering and agreed to pay nearly $30,000 in restitution under an agreement with federal prosecutors. He was also sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine within one month.

It is actually quite remarkable that he […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:45-04:00May 15, 2018|Dental Law Blog|

X-Ray Company Owner Receives 10 Years in Prison For $8M Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Which Lead to the Death of Two Patients

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On June 15, 2016, A medical diagnostics company owner found guilty of Medicare and Medicaid fraud for billing $8 million for X-rays whose botched analysis by amateurs led to the death of two patients was sentenced in Maryland federal court to 10 years in prison, the U.S. Department of Justice said. The diagnostics company, Alpha Diagnostics, LLC (Alpha), operated in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Alpha’s president and chief executive officer (CEO) Rafael Chikvashvili, was convicted by a jury in February 2016 of two counts of health care fraud resulting in death, nine counts […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:10-04:00May 15, 2018|Health Facilities Law Blog|

Home Health Care Company Admits to FCA Violations, Agrees to Pay Millions

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On July 7, 2016, a Kentucky-based home health care chain, MD2U Holding Co. (MD2U), agreed to pay up to $21.5 million and admit False Claims Act (FCA) violations. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the deal is in connection with “extreme” billing practices that saw Medicare billed for false and unnecessary treatments.

The Complaint.

According to a complaint filed, MD2U frequently utilized billing codes reserved for the highest level of treatment when delivering primary care services in residential settings. The frequency with which the codes were used by MD2U made the company an “extreme outlier” among […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:10-04:00May 15, 2018|Health Facilities Law Blog|

Appeals Court Rules Against Nursing Home: Bankruptcy Cannot Affect Prevent Cancellation of Medicare or Medicaid Contacts

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On July 11, 2016, a federal appeals court stated that a bankruptcy judge did not have the authority to block government health officials from cutting off Medicare and Medicaid payments to a Florida nursing home that was alleged to have violated patient-care regulations. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) in the dispute with nursing home operator Bayou Shores SNF LLC (Bayou Shores).

The Violations.

In 2014, state inspectors cited a St. Petersburg nursing […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:11-04:00May 15, 2018|Health Facilities Law Blog|