Tag Archives: DOJ
Healthcare CEO faces life in prison for fraud that led to 2 patient deaths
The CEO and co-owner of a Maryland diagnostics company is facing life in prison after a federal jury convicted him of two counts of healthcare fraud that resulted in death, according to the Department of Justice.
On Wednesday, a federal jury found 67-year-old Rafael Chikvashvili, PhD, guilty of healthcare fraud. Dr. Chikvashvili was the co-owner and CEO of Owings Mills, Md.-based Alpha Diagnostics, which was a portable diagnostic services provider, principally of X-rays.
According to evidence presented at trial, Dr. Chikvashvili was involved in a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. He and others allegedly conspired to create false radiology, ultrasound and cardiologic interpretation reports. He also allegedly submitted insurance claims for medical examination interpretations that were never completed by licensed physicians, according to the DOJ.
Dr. Chikvashvili allegedly instructed his nonphysician employees to interpret X-rays, ultrasounds and cardiologic examinations, which, according to testimony provided at trial, resulted in two patient deaths.
Justice Department joins lawsuit against Prime Healthcare
http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/justice-department-joins-lawsuit-against-prime-healthcare/419849/
The U.S. Justice Department recently filed notice in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles that it is partly intervening in a whistle-blower case against Prime Healthcare Services. The whistle-blower lawsuit alleges that Prime Healthcare fraudulently billed Medicare for beneficiaries admitted as inpatients instead of treating them as outpatients.
http://www.healthcaredive.com/news/doj-accuses-prime-of-driving-up-medicare-admissions/421800/
301 people charged in massive $900 million false billings Medicare fraud
More than 60 of the defendants arrested are charged with fraud related to the Medicare prescription drug benefit program known as Part D.
Healthcare CEO gets 10 years for fraud that led to 2 patient deaths
Impact of antitrust suit against CHS could ripple nationwide
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article83142307.html
A win for the U.S. Justice Department could establish an important legal precedent. Hospitals nationwide might have to remove contract provisions that limit competition. That could result in lower prices for patients.
81-year-old former pediatrician pleads guilty to fraud
According to his plea agreement, Nicola Tauraso, MD, practiced as a pediatrician between 1972 and 2007. In 2009 he opened a pain management practice in Frederick, Md. Dr. Tauraso saw an excessive number of patients at his clinic — typically about 80 per eight-hour day — and wrote prescriptions for Oxycodone and Ocycontine without determining if a medical need existed for the prescriptions.
DOJ Sues Carolinas HealthCare Over Steering Restrictions
Federal and state officials claim that the healthcare system used its market power to leverage steering restrictions in its contracts with major insurers, resulting in higher costs for consumers.
Former Pacific Hospital CEO and son guilty in $600M fraud scheme
Owner, CFO of Louisiana healthcare company get prison time for fraud
Barbara Sadler, the 63-year-old owner of Extraordinary Care Network, a Baton Rouge, La.-area attendant care services company, has been sentenced to 44 months in prison for her role in a scheme to defraud the Louisiana Medicaid program of more than $1 million, according to the Department of Justice.
The company’s CFO Sedric C. Blakes, 42, has been ordered to spend three years behind bars for his role in the scheme.
HENRY KOTULA 