NEWS RELEASE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – MED 1st of Evansville, P.C., located in Evansville, Indiana, was charged by Grand Jury Indictment on Wednesday with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance Act announced United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.
According to the four count indictment, beginning in January 2009, and continuing until at least May 2014, MED 1ST Of Evansville, P.C., conspired with others to commit health care fraud by causing the submission of false claims to Medicaid, Medicare, Anthem, and other insurance carriers.
Specifically, MED 1ST Of Evansville, P.C., knowingly and willfully executed a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs including Medicare, Medicaid, and Anthem, by directing staff members to provide medically unnecessary treatments to patients and fraudulently billing the health care benefit programs for the services. Claims were allegedly submitted for medically unnecessary facet block injections; conscious sedation, which was never performed; back braces, which were not medically necessary; and performing unnecessary tests for patients.
Further beginning on or about November 2011, and continuing until at least December 2012, MED 1ST Of Evansville, P.C., knowingly and intentionally conspired to distribute and dispense controlled substances in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. According to the indictment, Conspirator A, who was then a medical practitioner and Drug Enforcement Administration registrant, signed blank prescription pads and permitted individuals, acting at the direction of Conspirator B, who were not Drug Enforcement Administration registrants, to conduct evaluations of patients and to use these pre-signed prescription pads to prescribe medication to the patients.
Further, MED 1ST Of Evansville, P.C., conspired to commit money laundering by using the proceeds from a specified unlawful activity (health care fraud and unlawful distribution and dispensing of controlled substances) to promote and conceal that activity, and to engage in monetary transactions greater than $10,000 with proceeds derived from that specified unlawful activity.
Further, MED 1ST Of Evansville, P.C., is subject to forfeiture of any and all property constituting or derived from any proceeds the defendants obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the these violations, and any and all property used or intended to be used in any manner or part to commit and to facilitate the commission of these violations.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lettricea Jefferson-Webb and Jessica Malloy. This case is being investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service, Indiana Attorney General’s Office and Kentucky Attorney General’s Office.