The DOJ, in separate press releases today, announced three convictions for Medicare fraud by individuals working in the home healthcare industry. In Louisiana, Louis and Verna Age were convicted by a jury for their roles in a $17.1 million Medicare fraud scheme. In Miami, Vladimir Jiminez pled guilty to taking part in a health care fraud conspiracy that cost Medicare $20 million. Both cases involved payments from home healthcare company operators to patient recruiters in exchange for Medicare beneficiary information. Once in possession of this information, the companies billed the patients and Medicare for services that were medically unnecessary or never provided. Both cases were brought as part of the government’s Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which now operates in nine cities and has charged more than 1,480 defendants.

Read the entire press releases, “Patient Recruiter for Miami Home Health Company Sentenced to 36 Months in $20 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme” ; “Operators of Louisiana Home Health Company Convicted in $17.1 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme”