If you’ve never experienced a loved one on Hospice Care you should consider yourself lucky. My father and mother-in-law were both on Hospice Care. When a family member is told their loved one is eligible for hospice, it’s a gut-punch because it solidifies your fear that they are near the end of life. But what if their prognosis was all a lie? A way to scheme the government out of money….
In this true-crime, we have a cast of players: the business owner, the CEO, and the mayor – also a licensed physician. Together, they scammed the government and manipulated patients for nine years before being caught.
Their “marks” were people with long-term incurable diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. They told the sick people they had six months or less to live and were eligible for Hospice Care. Hospice helps people with a terminal diagnosis typically with less than six months to live. Their victims were not terminally ill. In fact, according to a Department of Justice press release, some victims were walking, driving, working and coaching athletics.
The three in cahoots submitted false medical records with false diagnostic information, racking up a payout of $150 million in fraudulent claims. There were doctors given kickbacks for home-health and hospice referrals. As with most greed driven crimes, they spent their proceeds on expensive vehicles, jewelry, clothing, real estate, seasonal sports tickets, security details, lavish parties at Las Vegas nightclubs, and more.
A jury found all three guilty. Their crimes ranged from conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of health care investigations, false statements, and conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks.
The U.S. Attorney said,
“It’s disgusting how these three made millions by lying about and manipulating people’s end-of-life care.”
He went on to say,
These men won’t have season tickets or nice cars where they are headed.”
The court sentenced the CEO to 15 years in prison.
The court sentenced the business owner to 20 years in prison and pay $120 million in restitution to Medicare.
Before his sentencing hearing, the mayor/physician died from COVID complications.
That’s it for today. Be sure to email me if you hear of a true-crime you think would be good in a book. I’ll research it, share it and possibly use it in one of my novels.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s of Office, AARP, LMT Online