A man from Geneva, Illinois has been charged and intends to plead guilty in a case involving alleged fraudulent claims to Medicare totaling more than $2 million. The scheme involved submitting requests for durable medical equipment (DME) that was not medically necessary or wanted by beneficiaries, and which were influenced by kickbacks.
Kartik Bhatia, 36, faces one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of making false statements. The court has not yet scheduled a plea hearing.
According to charging documents, Bhatia worked with Raju Sharma and others to run a DME company that paid telemarketing firms for orders of orthotic devices such as ankle, wrist, knee, and back braces. Many Medicare beneficiaries neither needed nor requested these items. The documents also allege that doctors whose signatures appeared on the orders often had not treated the patients or prescribed the equipment. After authorities suspended payments to Bhatia’s company, he opened another DME business and continued similar activities.
Bhatia has agreed to plead guilty to charges related to health care fraud conspiracy and making materially false statements during the investigation.
“The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.”
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge at Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Graber and Sarah Hoefle are prosecuting the case.
“The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.”
