Divyesh “David” C. Patel, Medicaid and Medicare Fraud, OH, 2023

ORANGE VILLAGE, OH – Divyesh “David” C. Patel, 40, of Orange Village, Ohio, is headed to federal prison for two years after admitting to a brazen scheme to bilk Medicaid and Medicare out of nearly $1.9 million. U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach announced the sentencing, a clear message that healthcare fraud won’t be tolerated.

Patel pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and four counts of health care fraud. The scheme revolved around his company, Alpine Nursing Care, Inc., located at 4753 Northfield Road, Suite 5, North Randall, Ohio. Court documents detail a calculated effort to inflate bills and claim payment for services never rendered.

The operation wasn’t a solo act. Patel knowingly employed Belita Mable Bush as his office manager and director of provider services from June 1, 2006, through October 18, 2009, despite knowing she’d been previously convicted of a health care-related felony. This barred her from handling Alpine’s Medicaid and Medicare billings, but Patel turned a blind eye.

The fraud went further. Patel was aware Bush was falsifying documents, claiming Alpine provided home healthcare services that were either never delivered or were performed by aides with criminal records – individuals specifically prohibited from providing in-home care. This wasn’t about oversight; it was deliberate deception, a calculated risk to pad profits at the expense of taxpayers.

The result? A loss exceeding $1.9 million to Medicaid and Medicare. Dettelbach didn’t mince words: “This sentence should send a message to those who would engage in health care fraud that they will end up in prison and stripped of the money they steal.” Bush, also facing the consequences, pleaded guilty to making a false statement and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20th.

The investigation, a collaborative effort by the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Cleveland; Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland, highlights the commitment to rooting out healthcare fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Bennett and Special Assistant General Constance Nearhood prosecuted the case. It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is merely an accusation, and the government bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.