Dr. Richard Akoto, Medicare Billing Fraud, Maryland 2019
Baltimore, Maryland, USA – In a brazen scheme to exploit the Medicare system, Dr. Richard Akoto, a family medical doctor, has been ordered to pay $1,407,493.23 in judgment for fraudulent billing of the program. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland (USAO-MD) announced the judgment against Dr. Akoto and his practice, Richard O. Akoto, M.D. PC, located in Takoma Park, Maryland.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland found that Dr. Akoto submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to the Medicare program in connection with his use of auricular stimulation (P-Stim) devices. The devices, used to treat patients for pain, provide electrical acupuncture externally to the patient and are not reimbursable by Medicare.
Dr. Akoto fraudulently billed Medicare for a complex neurosurgical procedure, using a code for an implantable neurostimulator device, which is surgically implanted into a patient and typically performed by a surgeon in an operating room. This procedure was billed numerous times from approximately January 17, 2019, to May 1, 2019.
“Dr. Akoto knowingly submitted false claims by billing non-invasive P-Stim devices as surgical implants—an unconscionable and blatant misrepresentation to exploit the Medicare system,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes. “This type of fraud not only wastes taxpayer dollars, it also undermines trust in our healthcare system.”
Dr. Akoto, a family medical practitioner, used the P-stim device to treat patients for pain. The device is applied externally to the patient, generally behind the patient’s ear using an adhesive to hold the device in place. The United States filed a complaint against Dr. Akoto alleging he falsely billed Medicare.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HHS-OIG for its work in the investigation and thanked Thomas F. Corcoran, Chief, USAO-MD Civil Division, and Investigator Ann Thiel, for their investigation and litigation of this case.
The judgment is a stark reminder of the importance of accurately billing for services provided to Medicare enrollees. As HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon said, “Accurately billing for services provided to Medicare enrollees is required of all health care providers participating in the program.”
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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