Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Two Charged for Medicare Fraud Schemes in Detroit Involving $8.8 Million in False Billings


A federal indictment was unsealed today in Detroit charging two individuals for their participation in a series of separate Medicare fraud schemes involving home health services, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced.

McQuade was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Edward Hanko of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh, III of the HHS-OIG Office of Investigation.

Charged in the indictment were Usha Shah, 63, and Deepak Shah, 63, both of West Bloomfield, Michigan. According to the indictment, the Shahs were allegedly involved in fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare totaling more than $8.8 million through their company, Miracle Home Health of Southfield, for home health care services that were medically unnecessary and/or never provided.

In addition, the court documents allege that the Shahs engaged in a conspiracy to pay cash kickbacks in return for obtaining Medicare beneficiaries’ whose Medicare identifications were used to bill the Medicare program.

U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade said, “Medicare fraud cheats taxpayers out of money intended to pay for health care. We want providers to know that we are scrutinizing billing records to root out fraud.”

FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Edward Hanko said, “Those who seek to steal from the medicare system and collect millions of dollars illegally must be brought to justice. These types of crimes motivated by greed will continue to be investigated vigorously by the FBI and our law enforcement partners.”

“The payment of kickbacks in exchange for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries is illegal,” said Lamont Pugh, III Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “The OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold those who participate in this type of illegal activity accountable.”

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip A. Ross. The investigation was conducted jointly by the FBI and HHS-OIG.

No comments: