Medicare fraud

Feds Indict Texans for Alleged Medicare Fraud

United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price announced the “largest health care fraud takedown operation in American history” on Thursday in which hundreds of individuals nationwide were indicted for their alleged roles in bilking U.S. taxpayers out of $1.3 billion by filing false Medicare claims. One in four of these cases involved opioid-related crimes.

The Associated Press

Texas Hospice Home Owner Accused of Accelerating Deaths for Profit

“You need to make this patient go bye-bye,” a Texas hospice home owner is accused of texting his employee. The CPA who does not have a medical license, is accused of telling medical personnel to administer up to four times the amount of morphine recommended in order to accelerate client deaths and maximize profits.

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Dr. Salomon Melgen, Menendez Supporter, Released on $18 Million Bond

When the smiling ophthalmologist, accompanied by his wife and daughter, walked free, it was the first time he has been out of jail since his arrest April 14 on federal charges of Medicare fraud. Federal prosecutors claim Melgen cheated taxpayers out of $105 million in Medicare reimbursements he received between 2007 and 2014. He faces unrelated charges alongside Sen. Robert Menendez in New Jersey.

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

DOJ Opposes Change of Venue in Sen. Menendez Corruption Trial

The federal government argues that Menendez should be tried by his New Jersey constituents and peers. “Robert Menendez, a United States Senator elected to represent the people of New Jersey, has filed a motion seeking to avoid being tried by a jury of his peers in the State of New Jersey. The Court should not permit this,” the brief notes.

AP Photo/Mel Evans

Federal Judge Denies Bond for Dr. Salomon Melgen, He Remains in Florida Jail

Facing a possible lifetime sentence on the Medicare fraud charges, and an equally lengthy sentence in the public corruption charges, Melgen may reconsider how strong those ties of friendship with Sen. Bob Menendez are. Menendez, who is free on bond and continues to conduct his duties as a Senator in Washington, is facing only one trial. Dr. Melgen, in contrast, faces two trials and may not see the outside of a jail cell for a very long time.

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Abbott Appoints New Inspector General for Plagued State Health Agency

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Stuart W. Bowen, Jr. as Inspector General for the plagued Texas Health and Human Services Commission. The previous Inspector General stepped down on December 31st when Governor Rick Perry asked him to do so. The state agency has been in the midst of a controversy relative to an alleged no-bid contract given 21CT. State and federal probes have been initiated.

Stuart Bowen, Jr. - State Dept photo