Tenet Healthcare Corporation and its affiliated hospital Desert Regional Medical Center (DRMC), a general medical and surgical hospital located in Palm Springs, California, have agreed to pay $1.41 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by … Read More
A top Trump health appointee sought to have taxpayers reimburse her for the costs of jewelry, clothing and other possessions, including a $5,900 Ivanka Trump-brand pendant, that were stolen while in her luggage during a work-related trip, according to documents … Read More
Following a detailed account of how scam artists can easily gain access to health care cash, six Democratic senators this week sent a letter to federal regulators urging them to “close loopholes” that allow “bad actors” to commit fraud. The … Read More
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A blood-testing company filed for bankruptcy and says it’s cutting jobs because Medicare payments have been withheld over allegations of fraud. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports True Health Diagnostics LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this … Read More
Over an early September weekend in 2017, some 850 visitors showed up to the University of Maryland (UMD) basketball arena in College Park. But the attendees weren’t there to watch a game, they came to receive free dental care through … Read More
TEXARKANA, Texas – A Texarkana, Texas, physician has agreed to pay $118,000 to settle allegations of improper billing practices for his Medicare patients at his three clinics, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today. Dr. Donald S. Douglas, 50, operates … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is alerting the public about a fraud scheme involving orthotic braces and other medical equipment. Scammers are offering Medicare beneficiaries orthotic braces that are supposedly free to them … Read More
Medicare made more than $23 billion in improper payments in 2017 due to insufficient documentation, according to a new Government Accountability Office report. The GAO also found in its review that Medicaid paid out more than $4 billion for services … Read More
Lack of routine dental care can result in complications and high-cost emergency department visits. Yet almost two-thirds of Medicare recipients, 37 million people, don’t have dental coverage, according to a recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). As a … Read More
12-07-2018 | Audit (A-05-17-00013) | Complete Report | Report in Brief In a previous review, OIG determined that CMS had recovered the majority of Medicaid overpayments that we had identified in audit reports issued during Federal fiscal years (FYs) 2000 … Read More
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has labored zealously to cut federal regulations, but its latest move has still astonished some experts on health care: It has asked for recommendations to relax rules that prohibit kickbacks and other payments intended to … Read More
Antitrust officials gave CVS the green light on Wednesday to purchase Aetna, the nation’s third-largest health insurance company, in a $69 billion deal that could potentially transform the health care industry and change how millions of Americans receive basic medical … Read More
Newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries may face a confusing process as they begin their quests to enroll. Navigating the parts, costs and coverage options can overwhelm even the savviest beneficiaries. Below, we answer seven major questions about Medicare and its coverage. … Read More
STANDARD — As quickly as they’re detected and defeated — new, more complex scams take their place. Health care is a common target. To help residents avoid these swindles, the Putnam County Community Center in Standard recently held a program … Read More
Hurricane Harvey has left our Houston and Texas communities with significant recovery and restoration needs. As attorneys, we struggle with how we can be most helpful. It is in this spirit, that we have compiled this Special Alert to help … Read More
Texas, which has owned the distinction of having the largest uninsured population in the country, has earned another dubious honor. It’s now considered among the worst states in the country for health care. New analysis of the Best & Worst … Read More
WASHINGTON – Now that Senate Republicans have failed in their attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare and cut Medicaid, House Republicans are pushing a budget that aims to do all that and then some. Their budget proposal partially privatizes Medicare … Read More
The owner of a home health agency in Dallas has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for his role in the nation’s largest home health care fraud scheme in history—a nearly $400 million scam, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. … Read More
COOKE COUNTY, Texas (KXII) — Sixteen people at a North Texas hospice are charged with ripping off federal taxpayers for $60 million in a Medicare fraud scheme. That includes two people from Cooke County.One is a doctor who still has … Read More
MCALLEN – The owner of a Rio Grande Valley medical equipment company accused of trying to defraud state Medicaid was arrested on Thursday. Anna Ramirez-Ambriz faces six counts of healthcare fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft. A federal … Read More
DALLAS (AP) – Prosecutors say a Texas woman who operated a home health care company has pleaded guilty in a case linked to more than $40 million in fraudulent services. Myrna S. Parcon pleaded guilty Tuesday in Dallas to conspiracy … Read More
Attorney General Ken Paxton announced today that a former Medicare provider, Chimaroke Echenwune, has been convicted of conducting fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid programs, attempting to steal more than $1.3 million through illegal practices. Echenwune worked with his wife and 13 … Read More
The owner of more than 30 Miami-area skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, a hospital administrator and a physician’s assistant were charged with conspiracy, obstruction, money laundering and health care fraud in connection with a $1 billion scheme involving numerous … Read More
Six individuals, including two Dallas-area doctors, were charged in a superseding indictment that was unsealed today for their alleged participation in a $13.4 million health care fraud scheme involving fraudulent claims for home health services. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. … Read More
WASHINGTON—The co-owners of a home health company in Dallas and two nurse employees were charged in an indictment unsealed yesterday for their alleged participation in a $13.4 million health care fraud scheme involving fraudulent claims for home health services. Assistant … Read More
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) knew as far back as 2008 that certain Medicare Advantage plans were pocketing billions in overpayments, but officials still held back on auditing the plans and recouping payments tied to inflated risk … Read More
In the latest government blow against rampant Medicare fraud, two doctors and a registered nurse in New Orleans were given stiff prison sentences and millions of dollars in fines this week in federal court for their roles in a long-term $50 … Read More
Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–November 20, 2015. A Texas man was sentenced today to 63 months for his role in a $3.4 million scheme to defraud Medicare, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kenneth … Read More
A McAllen doctor was convicted Friday after he pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud and an illegal kickback scheme with his assistant. Eduardo Carrillo, 42, admitted he attempted to bill Medicare for providing services to deceased patients, according to a news … Read More
A Pharr woman has been sentenced for her role in a scheme to defraud the Medicare program, according to a news release from the Department of Justice. Martha Lidia Flores, 51, pled guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud … Read More
Republicans are openly feuding over whether to seek drastic changes to Medicare, Social Security and other entitlement programs, risking a potentially damaging intraparty battle ahead of the 2016 elections. The rift was exemplified this week by the GOP stars of … Read More
Medicare spent more than $30 million during the first half of 2012 on ambulance transports for patients that appear to be ghosts on paper, according to a new report released by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Tuesday. The report revealed … Read More
TYLER (KYTX) – Law enforcement officers in East Texas have arrested multiple individuals charged in a Medicare fraud scheme.A federal grand jury returned an 18-count indictment charging 12 individuals with Three Angels Home Heath, Inc., in a scheme to defraud … Read More
A McAllen area doctor accused in June of filing fraudulent Medicare claims involving deceased patients faces new charges after he continued to file false claims, federal investigators said. Source: Doctor accused of filing claims for dead patients faces new charges … Read More
On the streets of Managua, the shuttle bus wrapped in a giant ad for free health care stood out. “Medicare for people living abroad,” it proclaimed above the image of a cheerful older woman playing golf. But Medicare, the American … Read More
Los Angeles, California – The owner and operator of three medical clinics located in Los Angeles pleaded guilty today to submitting more than $4.5 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s … Read More
President Barack Obama gave Medicare and Medicaid, the federal and state health care entitlements for the elderly and poor, respectively, a clean bill of financial health in his weekly addresson Saturday as he marked the programs’ 50th birthday. “Today, we’re often … Read More
Enrollment in private insurance plans has soared as the government has tried control costs and improve care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Source: As Medicare and Medicaid Turn 50, Use of Private Health Plans Surges – The New York Times
HOUSTON—Dr. Dennis B. Barson Jr., 42, has been ordered to federal prison following his convictions related to a conspiracy to defraud Medicare of $2.1 million in less than two months, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. A federal jury convicted Barson … Read More
(Reuters) – A federal judge on Friday sentenced a Detroit-area doctor who admitted performing unnecessary procedures on hundreds of cancer patients to 45 years in prison, prosecutors said. Dr. Farid Fata, 50, who pleaded guilty in September to more than … Read More
