Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit today announced the arrest of a registered behavior technician. [Read more…] about Behavior Technician Who Allegedly Defrauded Florida Medicaid of More Than $119,000 Arrested
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
Attorney General Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Arrests Viera Woman for Medicaid Fraud
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office arrested an individual on charges of Medicaid provider fraud. [Read more…] about Attorney General Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Arrests Viera Woman for Medicaid Fraud
Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Arrests Individuals in Senior Exploitation Sweep
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted an exploitation sweep this week that resulted in the arrest of four individuals who exploited seniors and disabled individuals. [Read more…] about Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Arrests Individuals in Senior Exploitation Sweep
Massive Nationwide Health Care Fraud Takedown
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the United States Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced a nationwide health care fraud takedown stopping schemes defrauding Medicare and Medicaid out of $2 billion. [Read more…] about Massive Nationwide Health Care Fraud Takedown
Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU Wins Top Award for Fighting Waste, Fraud and Abuse
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General today awarded Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit its top award for fighting fraud. The HHS OIG selected Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU from 50 units nationwide for success fighting fraud and recovering hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. The MFCU today received the Award of Excellence in Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse at the 2017 Honor Awards Ceremony in Washington D.C.
“Since taking office my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has recovered nearly $700 million in stolen Medicaid funds for Florida taxpayers, and I am honored that our office is being recognized nationally for the investigative and prosecutorial work we do daily to protect taxpayer money and ensure justice is served,” said Attorney General Bondi.
Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU, led by Director James Varnado, is also being recognized for great collaboration with HHS and other federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Last year, working with HHS, FBI, U.S. Department of Justice and additional federal and state law enforcement agencies, the MFCU helped execute the largest Medicare and Medicaid fraud takedown in United States history. As part of this coordinated takedown, the MFCU charged six individuals involved in schemes causing more than $17 million in fraudulent billings. In total, the joint investigation identified more than $200 million in fraud that resulted in more than 100 arrests in Florida.
The MFCU continues to work with federal partners to recover stolen Medicaid funds and prevent millions of dollars in potential future fraud. In 2011, HHS certified the Florida MFCU as the first unit in the country with the authority to conduct data mining to find and stop Medicaid fraud. Now, the Florida MFCU is one of only nine units in the country with OIG approval to data mine billing practices of Medicaid providers, such as hospitals, doctors and pharmacies.
A report released earlier this year, highlighted more than $165 million in total recoveries obtained by the Florida MFCU during the 2016 Fiscal Year, the second highest in the nation.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state’s Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida’s taxpayers. From Jan. 2011 to the present, Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU has obtained nearly $700 million in settlements and judgments. Additionally, the MFCU investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program,
Two more arrested in Medicaid fraud scheme
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office today announced the arrests of Danielle Richardson, 42, and Vickram Thakur, 50, in connection to a Medicaid fraud scheme. Richardson and Thakur are former employees of DS Connections, Inc., a targeted case management company headquartered in Winter Park, with offices in Clermont and Tallahassee. These two arrests are the ninth and tenth arrests of former DS Connections employees since January 2015 for Medicaid fraud.
According to the MFCU investigation, Richardson and Thakur caused thousands of dollars in unauthorized targeted case management services to be billed to the state’s Medicaid program.
Thakur is charged with one count of scheme to defraud less than $20,000. If convicted, Thakur faces up to five years in prison and $15,000 in fines and restitution. Richardson is charged with 10 counts of grand theft. If convicted, Richardson faces up to a hundred years in prison and $75,000 in fines and restitution.
The Attorney General’s Office will prosecute this case through an agreement with the State Attorney’s Office for the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida. The MFCU investigation is ongoing and more arrests are probable.
For more information about the previous arrests, click here, here and here.
The Florida Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state’s Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida’s taxpayers. From Jan. 2011 to the present, Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU has obtained more than $689 million in settlements and judgments. Additionally, the MFCU investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program.
Three Arrested in Medicaid Fraud Scheme Targeting Homeless
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Kissimmee Police Department, the Orlando Police Department and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests of three individuals for allegedly defrauding the Medicaid program out of more than $10,000. According to the investigation, the owner of Genesis TCM, a provider of Targeted Case Management services and two Genesis employees, allegedly billed Medicaid for Targeted Case Management services never provided. The defendants allegedly conspired with Tranquility HealthCare Solutions owner, Christina M. Benson, and others to fraudulently bill the Medicaid system.
“My Medicaid Fraud Control Unit works tirelessly to recover stolen Medicaid funds and we will not stand for anyone taking advantage of homeless individuals to essentially steal from taxpayers,” said Attorney General Bondi. “Since taking office we have recovered more than $689 million in Medicaid fraud settlements and judgments, and we will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who attempts to steal from the Medicaid program.”
In 2015, authorities arrested the additional conspirators for allegedly recruiting the homeless to bilk Medicaid out of more than $200,000. For more information on these previous arrests, click here.
The Attorney General’s MFCU began investigating Genesis after learning that Genesis did not provide TCM services to Medicaid recipients, including the homeless. According to the investigation, Genesis promised temporary free housing to these recipients, however once recipients filled out free housing forms, Genesis provided limited or no further contact. Genesis allegedly used the recipients’ Medicaid information listed on the forms to bill for TCM services.
Authorities arrested the following defendants in connection to the case:
- Deborah Del-Moral, 55, Orange County;
- Humberto Javier Santiago, 36, Osceola County; and
- Humberto Santiago, 38, Orange County.
All three defendants face one count of Medicaid provider fraud, a second-degree felony, and one count of organized scheme to defraud, a third-degree felony. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 30 years in prison and more than $15,000 in fines. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.
The Florida Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state’s Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida’s taxpayers. From Jan. 2011 to the present, Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU has obtained more than $689 million in settlements and judgments. Additionally, the MFCU investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program.
New Report Highlights More than $165 Million in MFCU Recoveries
A newly released report shows Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is recovering millions of lost Medicaid dollars. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General report highlights more than $165 million in recoveries by the MFCU during federal fiscal year 2015-2016.
“My Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigators work tirelessly to stop Medicaid fraud and recover stolen funds for taxpayers,” said Attorney General Bondi. “This report sends the strong message that we will continue to aggressively pursue anyone trying to defraud Florida’s Medicaid program.”
Since taking office in 2011, Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU has obtained more than half a billion dollars in settlements and judgments. The unit investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state’s Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Additionally, the MFCU investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program.
Each year HHS OIG publishes a report of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit statistical data for the preceding federal fiscal year. According to the report, Florida ranked second in the nation in total recoveries for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.
To view HHS OIG’s report, click here.
The Florida Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state’s Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida’s taxpayers. From Jan. 2011 to the present, Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU has obtained more than $500 million in settlements and judgments. Additionally, the MFCU investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program.
Lee County man arrested again following MFCU investigation
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office today announced the second arrest of Ryan Todd Powers, 40, for grand theft of a motor vehicle.
Last month, following a MFCU investigation, authorities arrested the Lee County man on two counts exploitation involving an elderly person. According to the investigation, Powers unlawfully obtained funds from an elderly relative suffering from physical limitations. In order to manage his relative’s affairs, Powers obtained a durable power of attorney on behalf of the victim. Using the power of attorney, Powers allegedly misappropriated the victim’s funds and property.
Since Powers’ release on bond, an ongoing investigation by MFCU’s Patient Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Team discovered that Powers continued to use the power of attorney to sell a vehicle belonging to the elderly relative, again misappropriating property and funds for purposes other than the relative’s benefit.
In addition to the initial counts of exploitation, both third-degree felonies, Powers faces one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle, a third-degree felony. If convicted, Powers faces up to 15 years in prison and more than $20,000 in fines and restitution. The State Attorney’s Office for the 20th Judicial Circuit will prosecute the case.
The Florida Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program. The Patient Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation Team plays a key role in helping to ensure that efficient and effective healthcare is being provided. Additionally, the MFCU investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state’s Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida’s taxpayers. From Jan. 2011 to the present, Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU has obtained more than $500 million in settlements and judgments.
