A Maryland health care provider who ran COVID-19 push-nevertheless screening internet sites in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties has been indicted by a federal grand jury on fees he defrauded Medicare.
A Maryland physician who ran COVID-19 travel-even though screening web pages in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties has been indicted by a federal grand jury on costs he defrauded Medicare.
Dr. Ron Elfenbein, 47, of Arnold, was the operator of Drs ERgent Treatment, LLC, which operated Very first Connect with Medical Center and Chesapeake ERgent Treatment Centre. Prosecutors accuse him of instructing staff members at his COVID testing sites to overbill Medicare and other insurers for the products and services provided.
In accordance to the Department of Justice, Elfenbein advised his team to bill for business office visits that lasted about 30 minutes, even even though COVID take a look at visits lasted 5 minutes or a lot less. In all, prosecutors declare Elfenbein submitted statements really worth $1.5 million for business office visits that have been not offered and not suitable for reimbursement.
“It is unconscionable that this defendant sought to line his own pockets in the course of a international pandemic by grossly overbilling Medicare and other insurers for these critical healthcare services through a time of countrywide disaster,” reported FBI Unique Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski in a statement.
If convicted, Elfenbein faces up to 10 many years in prison.
Elfenbein was amongst 18 individuals charged in a nationwide probe of alleged wellbeing care fraud related to COVID-19.
Among all those charged ended up two folks accused of misusing revenue supplied to frontline professional medical providers as section of the Coronavirus Help, Relief, and Financial Protection (CARES) Act that was handed in 2020.
Some others have been accused of exploiting policies that were set in place by the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Companies to enhance accessibility to treatment for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DOJ crackdown also led to expenses versus individuals who created, marketed and offered phony COVID vaccination playing cards. In a separate announcement, the DOJ explained Amar Salim Shabazz, 23, of Owings Mills, Maryland, has been accused of handing out phony cards.
Any person knowledgeable of very similar fraudulent exercise can contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721 or file an on the web grievance.
Editor’s take note: An before edition of this tale misstated the volume in fraudulent promises that prosecutors say Elfenbein submitted. The story has been corrected and updated.
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