wednesday, december 4, 2019
PT clinics upcode in $6M scheme in Texas, Utah
December 4, 2019, Salt Lake, UT — The owner of San Antonio and Salt Lake City physical therapy clincs was sentenced Monday to spend as much as six years in prison and pay restitution for a scheme that swindled the federal workers’ compensation program out of more than $6 million. Rafael Enrique Rodriguez, owner of the multi-office 210 Workers, was sentenced in federal court after he was convicted in June of the fraud, which prosecutors said involved upcoding of service paid by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Program. … more info > Workcomp Central
Bungled emails bust suspected setup wreck in UK
December 4, 2019, London, UK — A web of lies spun by four fraudsters was unravelled by detectives investigating their ‘crash for cash’ scam. Police were called when insurers became suspicious about a claim for a collision on the M56 near Runcorn. And when those involved – including three men from Wirral – offered different stories they ended up being prosecuted rather than paid out. A ”crash” involving Arnold Flanagan, Levi Ireland, Jamie Howard and Thomas Johnson on July 21, 2016, led to a series of claims to insurers LV. … more info > ECHO
Med supply firm shutters after TV probe in Georgia
December 3, 2019, Fayetteville, GA — A Fayetteville company accused of shipping unwanted medical supplies to seniors across the country is no longer in business. Devotion Medical closed one year after a FOX 5 I-Team investigation first revealed complaints about its questionable business practices. The state of Georgia accused Devotion Medical Supply and a sister company called Durable Medical Supply of failing to make refunds for “fraudulently marketed medical supplies… created actual confusion” as to who sent the products, and violated the law by going after “elder persons and disabled adults.”… more info > FOX 5 Atlanta
Alaska “Hoverboard dentist” accused of false treatment
December 3, 2019, Anchorage, AK — The trial of Seth Lookhart, the Anchorage dentist accused of dozens of charges ranging Medicaid fraud, reckless endangerment and unlawful dental acts continued Tuesday. While a video showing Lookhart extracting a tooth from a sedated patient while riding a hoverboard highlights the prosecutions claims of unlawful dental acts, the most serious penalties Lookhart could face if convicted are tied to felony fraud, scheme to defraud and theft charges. On Tuesday four witnesses called by the prosecution testified. Two were former patients, … more info > KTUU
Texas Medicare fraudster fights to keep his property
December 3, 2019, Boca Del Mar, TX — A man who was found guilty of health care fraud with former Rio Bravo mayor Francisco Pena is fighting to keep his property from forfeiture. Rodney Mesquias, 47, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit health fraud and owns Boca Del Mar property in his name in San Antonio. Mesquias has until Dec. 6 to file a response to the motion, according to the court docket. According to an affidavit, the government traced health care fraud proceeds used to purchase the property on 19318 Boca Del Mar. … more info > LMT Online