February 9, 2013
The owner of Dallas-area Ultimate Care Home Health Services, Inc. has pleaded guilty to participating in a $374 million Medicare fraud scheme. Cyprian Akamnonu admitted that he worked with others to bill the Medicare program for medically unnecessary healthcare services that were not actually provided.
According to the Justice Department, starting in January 2006, Mr. Akamnonu asked his wife Pat Akamnonu and others to recruit Dallas-area Medicare beneficiaries for home healthcare services for which they were ineligible. Mr. Akamnonu would then pay doctors to sign prescriptions for home health services or provide Medicare beneficiary information in exchange for the prescriptions.
Ultimate Care Home Health Services staff would make only the most cursory visits to these Medicare beneficiaries before billing Medicare for services far beyond that provided. The skilled nursing services for which Ultimate Care billed Medicare was not medically necessary and not provided to the Medicare beneficiaries.
When he is sentenced next year, Mr. Akamnonu faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. In the plea agreement, Mr. Akamnonu agreed that he will not contest the forfeiture of substantial property, including 21 real properties, four vehicles, and funds from several bank accounts that represent proceeds of the fraud.
Medicare fraud is theft of taxpayer funds, and we need whistleblowers to expose these crimes. Because whistleblowers are a vital part of the fight against Medicare fraud, the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act permit whistleblowers to file suit on behalf of the government and to share in any money recovered in the lawsuit.
The attorneys at Waters & Kraus have extensive experience working with Medicare fraud whistleblowers. They can help you understand your legal rights and lead you through the legal process. Contact us or call our whistleblower attorneys at 800.226.9880 to learn more about our practice and how we can assist.
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