A quick scan of recent headlines will show readers how seriously federal and state authorities are cracking down on Medicare fraud in Louisiana and throughout the country. In fact, agents with the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, FBI and Health and Human Services recently combined their efforts to prosecute alleged healthcare fraud in seven cities.
One investigation resulted in the arrest of four people in Baton Rouge. They are accused of Medicare fraud amounting to $2.4 million.
Among the four people arrested in Baton Rouge, two of them are accused of filing false claims for tube-feeding equipment and supplies. Those claims, filed in the name of Golden Medical Equipment & Supply Inc., are said to come to $807,000. Specifically, the defendants are charged with a number of counts of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.
The other two suspects are accused of filing false claims for reimbursement on the sales of tube-feeding nutrients, supplies, equipment and wheelchairs in the name of Trust Medical Supply Co. and Trust Medical Supply LLC. The claims amount to more than $1.6 million, and the suspects are also charged with several counts of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Regardless of whether the claims are true, allegations of healthcare fraud can have long-term repercussions for a person’s professional and personal life. A criminal conviction can carry a lengthy prison sentence, large fines and other penalties. That is why it is essential for defendants to act quickly in response to prosecutors’ claims. Not everyone who is accused of healthcare fraud is guilty, but it always takes a strong criminal defense to fight federal charges.
Source: The Advocate, “Four in Baton Rouge charged in Medicare fraud cases,” Bill Lodge, Oct. 05, 2012