Originally sent to HCLA Membership on 7/16/10
Federal authorities say 31 people have been charged in Baton Rouge in connection with the nation’s largest Medicare fraud bust ever. Four Baton Rouge area doctors are also included. Drs. Dahlia Kirkpatrick, Sofjan Lamid, Anthony Jase, Jo Ann Francis and 27 others have been indicted by the Justice Department alleging fraudulent claims involving about $32 million in home health care equipment charges.
The defendants include the owners and operators of nine medical services companies in the Baton Rouge area. Prosecutors also charged 14 people with recruiting patients for the alleged scheme and others who worked at the companies. At this point there are no Medicare home health agency names identified in the group.
Nationally, 94 people have been indicted in Baton Rouge, Miami, New York City, Detroit and Houston. Federal authorities are conducting raids in five states leading to the arrests of dozens of suspects.
Several doctors and nurses were among those authorities hoped to arrest Friday in Miami, New York City, Detroit, Houston and Baton Rouge, La. Authorities said 36 people had been arrested as of Friday morning. They are accused of charging Medicare for unnecessary equipment, physical therapy and HIV infusions that patients typically never received. Ninety-four suspects were indicted.
They are accused of stealing more than $251 million in separate scams. More than 360 agents were participating in Friday’s raids. This list of names of the Louisiana residents was provided by the US Attorney’s office this morning. We’ll share more as information is available. There will also be discussion on this issue at the Gulf Coast Home Care Conference in Biloxi.
Warren Hebert, RN, CAE
HomeCare Association of Louisiana
Businesses mentioned in the indictments:
Alpha Medical Solutions INC.
Lobdale Medical Services LLC.
Liberty Medical Services LLC.
Medical Supplies of Baton Rouge, Inc.
Unique Medical Solution, INC.
Healthcare 1, LLC.
Lifeline Healthcare Services, INC.
Medical 1 Patient Services, LLC.
AYS Medical Supplies, LLC. of Gonzales
List from US Attorney’s Office
Veronica Lewis Green Gonzales, LA Age 42
Young Okoro Anyanwu Baton Rouge, LA Age 58
Beatrice Nwugo Anyanwu Baton Rouge, LA Age 52
Sandra Parkman Thompson New Orleans, LA Age 55
Anthony Stephen Jase, M.D. New Orleans, LA Age 40
Doretha Paul Augustus Baton Rouge, LA Age 37
Thompson W. Chinwoh Baton Rouge, LA Age 56
Stephanie Dangerfield Baton Rouge, LA Age 49
Bradis D. Hicks Baker, LA Age 45
Samuel B. Johnson Baton Rouge, LA Age 47
Benjamin Amadi Baton Rouge, LA Age 53
Nnanta Felix Ngari Prairieville, LA Age 53
Henry Lamont Jones Zachary, LA Age 35
Sofjan Lamid Mandeville, LA Age 81
Ernest Payne Houston, TX Age 50
Emmanuel M. Komandu Prairieville, LA Age 38
Dahlia Kirkpatrick, M.D. LaPlace, LA Age 62
Henry Jones Zachary, LA Age 35
Chikenna Jones Zachary, LA Age 34
Sofjan Lamid, M.D. Mandeville, LA Age 81
Jo Ann Francis, M.D. Natchez, MS Age 59
Karen Rayburn Baton Rouge, LA Age 45
Mary Griffin Baton Rouge, LA Age 51
Rodney Taylor Baton Rouge, LA Age 44
Stephanie Dangerfield Baton Rouge, LA Age 49
Bonnie Simmons Kentwood, LA Age 59
Mary Bessie Baton Rouge, LA Age 81
Fred Belcher Alabama Age 59
Beulah Richardson Baton Rouge, LA Age 45
Stephanie Williams Baton Rouge, LA Age 37
Robert Foster
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