7 accused of $375M Medicare, Medicaid fraud

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120229/D9T6TT7G0.html

By NOMAAN MERCHANT

DALLAS (AP) - Years after Jacques Roy started filing paperwork that would have made his practice the busiest Medicare provider in the U.S., authorities say they've found most of his work was a lie.

They accused Roy on Tuesday of "selling his signature" to collect Medicare and Medicaid payments for work that was never done or wasn't necessary. Others charged in the scheme are accused of fraudulently signing up patients or offering them cash, free groceries or food stamps to give their names and a number used to bill Medicare.

Roy, 41, a doctor who owned Medistat Group Associates in DeSoto, Texas, faces up to 100 years in prison if he's convicted of several counts of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Six others, including the owners of three home health service agencies, are also charged. More than 75 agencies linked to Roy have had their Medicare payments suspended.

Roy's attorney, Patrick McLain, said he had yet to review much of the evidence but that Roy maintained his innocence.


W. Rick Copeland, Director of Medical Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the Texas Attorney General, stands next to a chart outlining a healthcare fraud scheme during a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, in Dallas. Officials announced federal charges in what they called the largest case of medical fraud in U.S. history involving $375 million. (AP Photo/LM Otero)


FULL story at link.