Medications are not simple candies that can be consumed without any instructions. But many of those involved in medical professions are found to be giving medications out to patients without proper consultation. A new healthcare fraud case of the giant scale was made public in Houston, Texas. The whole case consisted of fifty-eight people who collaborated together to pull off 66 million dollars worth of healthcare fraud. Sixteen of those charged were doctors or medical workers. Twenty of them worked for carrying out fraud activities.
Multiple healthcare giants were defrauded during the course of the case. TRICARE, Medicaid, and Medicare were among the giants. DOL – Office of Worker’s Compensation Programs as well as some insurance companies of private nature were also among them. According to evidence, the whole scheme involved submitting fake bills to healthcare companies. These bills were generated for prescriptions of patient consultations that were not essential or sometimes even conducted. In addition, bills of dangerous powerful compound drugs were also submitted falsely, which were not even provided to the patients. Additionally, illegal distribution of opioids was also carried out. They also distributed other prescription narcotics as well.
Previously as well, multiple arrests were done regarding the illegal distribution of such powerful drugs. About twenty-three million pills of very strong drugs including hydrocodone, oxycodone, and carisoprodol were stated to be distributed in the cases of these former arrests.
The widespread networks of illegal distribution of such powerful drugs are openly known in America. However, in recent times, larger efforts are made for checking and charging of such cases and those incriminated. The US Attorneys of Texas work singularly focused on eradicating the schemes of illegal opioid distributions. These attorneys work with this objective of eradication in all the areas of Texas.
General Brian A. Benczkowski from the Criminal Division of the Justice Department commented on how different government security and fraud investigation related offices work hard to check these cases. He was an Assistant Attorney involved in the investigation and publication of the case. He highlighted how such revealing of big fraud cases can lead to warning potential medical professionals who plot to execute such activities.
Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the DEA Houston commended the works of different security offices of Texas. Such investigations and cases reveal to show the strong motives of the workers of such offices to prevent such crimes and bring the criminals to justice.
HHS-OIG’ C.J. Porter stated the serious consequences of such crimes. The frauds in healthcare not only cause abuse of the taxes paid by the public, but they also cause medical costs to rise. In addition, such careless distribution of drugs results in dangerous health implications. The law forces work very hard to protect the interests of healthcare giants that provide services to so many people. The agents of the office work in collaboration with other agencies and offices to check such crimes and make the criminals pay.
The overall economic impact of such crimes is not easy to calculate or measure. In fact, it is not just the economic impact caused by such crimes. People lose their lives because of the use of powerful drugs, gotten illegally. A spokesman from the Federal Bureau of Investigation also assured that the agency was continuously working to track such crimes and making the security and health of the people a priority.
Among the others charged were Kathy Hernandez, Clint Randall, Diana Hernandez, Hieu Troung R.P.H., Prince White, Cederic Milbrun, and Charles Walton. Their crime included distributing medications illegally. Also, they gave controlled substances without there being any medical reasons. They operated through the S & S Pharmacy in Houston.
Franklin Nwabugwu R.P.H. was charged for the same crime. He operated from the Golden Pharmacy of Houston. Steven Inbody M.D., as well as Hoai-Huong Truong, were also charged. Ashley McCain, Gregory Comer, Kesia Banks, John Sims, and Jacqueline Hill were also charged. They operated from Continuous Medical Care and Rehabilitation.
Throughout the Northern District of Texas, Eastern District of Texas, and Eastern District of Texas (EDTX), many others were also arrested.
Erin Nealy COx from the Northern District of Texas also stated that when medical professionals abuse their access and rights, the whole economy suffers. Their crimes of falsely claiming reimbursements from the health care program end up draining the funds of such programs. This results in the prices of healthcare to rise for those most in need of such services. Their selfish motives end up denying needy people of their basic health care. He also stated how it is imperative to prevent such crimes in order to secure the health care system.
The Medicare Fraud Strike Force has been established to check such healthcare schemes. The force operates fourteen strike forces across twenty-four districts. Throughout the years, since its beginning, the force has been able to charge more than forty-two hundred people with frauds. This fraud claims amount to almost nineteen billion dollars till now.
The Fraud Section of the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division was the office that led to the imposition of the law. It worked with the Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF). The MFSF is a partnership among several of the government’s criminal investigation and law execution offices. It includes the Criminal Division, FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration. Additionally, it also includes the Veterans Affairs – OIG and the Department of Labor. Also, Texas State Medicaid Fraud Control Units along with many other agencies of federal law enforcement are included.
The Healthcare Fraud Group is here to provide you all the legal support in such cases. If you are charged with such frauds, we are here to assist you in sorting out all the legal procedures. We are here to provide thorough legal assistance. If you are involved in such cases, please feel free to contact us at 888-402-4054 for free consultations and the most effective services.
