Medicare Scam Lands Clinic Owner in Hot Water

ANAHIT HOVHANNISYAN, 34, of Armenia, has been caught up in a massive Medicare scam, pleading guilty to health care fraud on Monday, July 1, 2013. The Armenian woman, who operated Health Guard, Inc. as a medical clinic in Louisiana, faced a possible maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment on the Second Superseding Indictment to which she pled guilty.

HOVHANNISYAN, who was also an unlicensed and unqualified diagnostic technician, was accused of participating in a criminal organization that fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid. Patients who visited Health Guard, Inc. were subjected to unnecessary medical tests, which were then billed to the government healthcare programs. Those who refused the tests were threatened with withheld prescriptions for narcotic drugs.

According to the indictment, HOVHANNISYAN and Health Guard, Inc. used a complex scheme to deceive Medicare and Medicaid, moving patients between other clinics to perform unnecessary tests. The Second Superseding Indictment alleged that the defendants were involved in a massive conspiracy to commit health care fraud violations.

The investigation into Health Guard, Inc. was carried out by Special Agents of 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. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrice Harris Sullivan.

Five other clinics and their owners have already been sentenced for similar activity, highlighting the brazen nature of this Medicare scam. The sentencing for HOVHANNISYAN has been scheduled for September 26, 2013.

The plea deal marks a significant blow to the Health Guard, Inc. operation, which was accused of perpetuating a massive health care fraud scheme. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how many more individuals will be held accountable for their roles in this egregious crime.

Health care fraud experts warn that cases like this highlight the urgent need for greater oversight and accountability in the healthcare industry. With billions of dollars at stake, it’s imperative that healthcare providers and administrators prioritize transparency and integrity in their operations.

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