Akop Atoyan, Medicare Kickback Scheme, California 2015

A 48-year-old man from Glendale, California, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to Medicare fraud and kickbacks.

Akop Atoyan, the owner of several home health care and hospice agencies in the greater Sacramento area, admitted to paying kickbacks to individuals for beneficiary referrals. This scheme, which spanned from July 2015 to April 2019, resulted in over $31 million in Medicare payments.

According to court documents, Atoyan and his wife, Liana Karapetyan, owned and controlled ANG Health Care Inc., Excel Home Healthcare Inc., and Excel Hospice Inc. Despite certifying that they would not pay kickbacks, they allegedly paid millions to multiple individuals, including employees of health care facilities and their spouses.

The kickback recipients included John Eby, a registered nurse, Anita Vijay, the director of social services at a skilled nursing and assisted living facility, Jai Vijay, Anita Vijay’s husband, and Mariela Panganiban, the director of social services at a skilled nursing facility in Roseville.

As part of his guilty plea, Atoyan agreed to pay $2,525,363 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and forfeit the same amount to the United States. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the health care fraud conspiracy charge and five years for the kickback conspiracy charge.

Atoyan’s sentencing is scheduled for October 7, 2021. His wife, Liana Karapetyan, and the other individuals involved in the scheme have also pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

This case is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Thuesen is prosecuting the case.

Atoyan’s actions have severe consequences for the Medicare system and the vulnerable individuals it serves. The scheme highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the health care industry.

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