Home Health & Hospice Week
Home Care Patient Recruiters Plead Guilty To $20-Million Fraud Scheme
Two home health agency patient recruiters pled guilty to a $20-million fraud scheme in a Miami federal court, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Manuel Lozano and Vladimir Jimenez both pled guilty to one count each of conspiracy to receive health care kickbacks. The two men were purportedly patient recruiters for Serendipity Home Health, a Miami HHA.
Lozano and Jimenez admitted that from April 2007 through March 2009, they recruited patients for Serendipity, which the HHA billed Medicare for home health and therapy services never performed and/or not medically necessary. In exchange, Serendipity owners and operators allegedly paid the recruiters kickbacks and bribes. The HHA billed Medicare for $20 million worth of these fraudulent claims, according to court records.
The pair will face sentencing in April, when they could receive up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense, the DOJ says. In June 2012, Serendipity owners and operators Ariel Rodriguez and Reynaldo Navarro were each sentenced to more than six years in prison for their role in the fraud scheme.
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