Washington, At least one Indian and two people of Indian origin were among 193 medical professionals charged by the United States for their alleged involvement in massive healthcare fraud schemes involving approximately $2.75 billion in anticipated losses and $1,600 million dollars in actual losses, the Justice Department reported. has said.
The Department of Justice on Thursday announced the 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action, under which criminal charges were filed against 193 defendants, including 76 physicians, nurse practitioners and other licensed medical professionals in 32 districts of the United States. Joined.
The fraud schemes for which the individuals were charged involved "approximately $2.75 billion in anticipated losses and $1.6 billion in actual losses," the department said in an official statement.
The government seized more than $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold and other assets, he said.
Dr. Vijil Rahulan, 52, of Hyderabad, was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $82 million in funds from Medicare.
"Rahulan caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment and genetic testing that were medically unnecessary or ineligible for reimbursement through Medicare because they were not the product of a doctor-patient relationship and examination," according to the case summary.
The indictment further alleged that his fraudulent conduct resulted in Medicare paying more than $28.7 million.
Jaspreet Jagpal, owner of One World Therapy, was charged with insurance fraud and an aggravated white collar crime enhancement in connection with billing for behavioral analysis services not provided to five minor children.
The 34-year-old's fraudulent scheme resulted in a loss of approximately $166,755.50 over ten months, according to the case summary.
As alleged in the complaint by which he was charged, the California resident claimed that behavioral analysis services were provided to underage children that never occurred.
Rama Prayaga, 59, a psychiatrist with offices in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia, was criminally charged with health care fraud in connection with a $27.1 million scheme to defraud health insurance companies.
The case summary said Prayaga, of Virginia, allegedly used billing codes associated with longer, moderately complex patient visits to bill for insignificant encounters with telemedicine patients, some of which lasted less than a minute.
This overbilling resulted in him billing insurance companies on “impossible days,” meaning billing more than 24 hours a day. Prayaga also pushed medically unnecessary transcranial magnetic stimulation treatments on patients, which were administered by him or by members of his untrained staff. He also promoted ketamine treatment, which his staff administered to patients mixed with soft drinks.
"Prayaga received more than $14.8 million based on false and fraudulent claims," he said.
The Justice Department said charges brought under the National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action of 2024 include "a fraud scheme worth more than $900 million committed in connection with amniotic wound grafts; the illegal distribution of million Adderall pills and other stimulants by five defendants associated with a digital technology company and a more than $90 million fraud committed by corporate executives distributing adulterated and misbranded HIV medications."
The charges also included "more than $146 million in fraudulent addiction treatment schemes; more than $1.1 billion in laboratory and telemedicine fraud; and more than $450 million in other health care fraud and schemes." of opioids".
"It doesn't matter whether you are a trafficker for a drug cartel or a corporate executive or a medical professional employed by a healthcare company, if you profit from the illegal distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable," the statement said. , quoting Attorney General Merrick B. Garland."
"The Department of Justice will bring to justice criminals who defraud Americans, steal from taxpayer-funded programs, and put people in harm's way for profit," Garland said.
The Department of Justice on Thursday announced the 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action, under which criminal charges were filed against 193 defendants, including 76 physicians, nurse practitioners and other licensed medical professionals in 32 districts of the United States. Joined.
The fraud schemes for which the individuals were charged involved "approximately $2.75 billion in anticipated losses and $1.6 billion in actual losses," the department said in an official statement.
The government seized more than $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold and other assets, he said.
Dr. Vijil Rahulan, 52, of Hyderabad, was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $82 million in funds from Medicare.
"Rahulan caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment and genetic testing that were medically unnecessary or ineligible for reimbursement through Medicare because they were not the product of a doctor-patient relationship and examination," according to the case summary.
The indictment further alleged that his fraudulent conduct resulted in Medicare paying more than $28.7 million.
Jaspreet Jagpal, owner of One World Therapy, was charged with insurance fraud and an aggravated white collar crime enhancement in connection with billing for behavioral analysis services not provided to five minor children.
The 34-year-old's fraudulent scheme resulted in a loss of approximately $166,755.50 over ten months, according to the case summary.
As alleged in the complaint by which he was charged, the California resident claimed that behavioral analysis services were provided to underage children that never occurred.
Rama Prayaga, 59, a psychiatrist with offices in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia, was criminally charged with health care fraud in connection with a $27.1 million scheme to defraud health insurance companies.
The case summary said Prayaga, of Virginia, allegedly used billing codes associated with longer, moderately complex patient visits to bill for insignificant encounters with telemedicine patients, some of which lasted less than a minute.
This overbilling resulted in him billing insurance companies on “impossible days,” meaning billing more than 24 hours a day. Prayaga also pushed medically unnecessary transcranial magnetic stimulation treatments on patients, which were administered by him or by members of his untrained staff. He also promoted ketamine treatment, which his staff administered to patients mixed with soft drinks.
"Prayaga received more than $14.8 million based on false and fraudulent claims," he said.
The Justice Department said charges brought under the National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action of 2024 include "a fraud scheme worth more than $900 million committed in connection with amniotic wound grafts; the illegal distribution of million Adderall pills and other stimulants by five defendants associated with a digital technology company and a more than $90 million fraud committed by corporate executives distributing adulterated and misbranded HIV medications."
The charges also included "more than $146 million in fraudulent addiction treatment schemes; more than $1.1 billion in laboratory and telemedicine fraud; and more than $450 million in other health care fraud and schemes." of opioids".
"It doesn't matter whether you are a trafficker for a drug cartel or a corporate executive or a medical professional employed by a healthcare company, if you profit from the illegal distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable," the statement said. , quoting Attorney General Merrick B. Garland."
"The Department of Justice will bring to justice criminals who defraud Americans, steal from taxpayer-funded programs, and put people in harm's way for profit," Garland said.
