Don’t attempt to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. As if it wasn’t already obvious, this would be the stern warning we’d provide to everyone in the medical profession throughout the United States. Truth be told, it is advice everyone should take, no matter the industry they work within.
Of course, those with careers in the health care field are provided with numerous opportunities to bilk our nation’s insurance programs of money. It’s just sad to know how often these opportunities are taken. For years, the Allegiant Experts Blog has made no secret of the fact that health care fraud happens rampantly. A New York City-based pharmacy owner is simply the latest in a long line of fraudsters to be caught and punished for his actions.
Sajid Javid has been sentenced to 30 months in prison.
49 year-old, Sajid Javid has learned the hard way that he should have taken our advice. The owner and operator of a number of New York City area pharmacies is about to serve a 30-month prison sentence. As reported by News India Times, this week, Javid submitted more than $7.1 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid.
The sentence was handed down by Judge Vernon S. Broderick in a New York court. It follows Javid’s guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. In addition to the prison term, the Fresh Meadows, Queens resident will undergo three years of supervised release. He has also been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $6,040,451.32 to Medicare and $1,150,562.16 to Medicaid. In addition, Javid must forfeit the amount of $7,191,013.48.
Javid submitted bills for drugs that were not given to customers.
Audrey Strauss is the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. In her recent press release, she revealed that while owning and operating several pharmacies in Brooklyn and Queens, Javid conducted a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid programs. His scheme involved seeking reimbursement for prescription drugs that were not distributed to customers.
“Specifically, from January 2013 through December 2014, he obtained more than $7.1 million in reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid for prescription drugs that his pharmacies never actually dispensed to customers,” News India Times details, “Javid offered to pay, and did actually pay, kickbacks as part of his scheme, the press release noted.”
As reported by the United States Department of Justice, Strauss had this to say about the case: “Sajid Javed fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $7 million for drugs that were never actually dispensed, inducing others to forego their prescription medications in return for kickbacks. Javed contributed to the multibillion-dollar theft of federally funded public health care subsidies.”
Are you an attorney who is currently trying a health care fraud case?
Please don’t hesitate to contact Allegiant Experts to find out how our clinical expertise may help your case. Our experts have been providing expert clinical services for nearly two decades and can help your team by bridging the disciplines of medicine, coding and billing to ensure accurate payment and data is achieved. Give us a call at 407-217-5831 or email us at info@allegiantexperts.com.