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LA Medical Group Guilty of Healthcare Scam
In a shocking turn of events, LA Medical Group, Inc., a Louisiana corporation operating as a medical clinic, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. The clinic’s owner, 28-year-old Siranush Tulumdzhyan of Van Nuys, California, also faced charges.
According to the bill of information, Tulumdzhyan, an unlicensed and unqualified diagnostic technician, orchestrated a scheme to defraud Medicaid. Patients were lured to the clinic for unnecessary medical tests, which were not performed or medically necessary. The clinic would then submit false bills to Medicaid for the services.
The investigation revealed that patients who refused the diagnostic tests at LA Medical were threatened with withheld prescriptions for narcotic drugs. This coercive tactic was used to pressure patients into undergoing the unnecessary procedures. The clinic’s actions were a clear violation of trust and a blatant disregard for patient welfare.
The scheme was uncovered through a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Louisiana Department of Justice, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrice Harris Sullivan will prosecute the case.
Tulumdzhyan faces a possible maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, while LA Medical Group faces a maximum fine of $500,000. Sentencing has been scheduled for September 5, 2013.
The guilty plea marks a significant victory for the authorities in their fight against healthcare fraud. The case serves as a reminder that healthcare providers must operate with integrity and transparency, putting patients’ needs above profits.
As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen whether others will be held accountable for their roles in the scheme. One thing is certain, however: the healthcare industry will be watching closely to ensure that similar scams are prevented in the future.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Healthcare
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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