A New Orleans man has pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare by soliciting kickback payments for two New Orleans-area physicians.
Joseph A. Haynes, 63, pleaded guilty on no date specified to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive health care kickbacks and bribes in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Haynes admitted that he participated in a scheme with codefendants Muhammad Kaleem Arshad, M.D., 63, of New Orleans, Padmini Nagaraj, M.D., 61, of Kenner, Louisiana, and others, including patient recruiter Kim Ricard, 52, of Gonzales, Louisiana, and clinic owner Milton Diaz, 66, of Harvey, Louisiana.
The purpose of the scheme was to solicit and receive kickbacks and bribes for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries to Progressive Home Health (Progressive), of New Orleans, owned by Diaz, and having them certified as eligible to receive home health services.
In reality, the beneficiaries were not eligible to receive such services. Haynes admitted that he solicited a total of approximately $331,000 in kickbacks from Diaz for Ricard disguised as marketing fees and solicited approximately $1,500 in monthly kickbacks from Diaz for Arshad and Nagaraj disguised as medical director fees.
Arshad pleaded guilty on February 22, 2019 and Nagaraj pleaded guilty on May 2, 2019 before Judge Ashe, to one count each of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Sentencing for Haynes is set for August 22 before Judge Ashe.
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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