Author Archives: virginiasmp

United States Settles Claims of Durable Medical Equipment Fraud Against Wilmington Physician

WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss announced today that Dr. Vishal Patel, a Wilmington physician, has agreed to pay $1,080,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the False Claims Act by ordering medically unnecessary durable medical equipment for patients covered by Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).  (READ MORE)

Suffolk services provider pleads guilty to healthcare fraud

NORFOLK, Va. – A Suffolk woman pled guilty yesterday to one count of healthcare fraud and six counts of making false statements relating to healthcare matters. According to court documents, from June 2016 through October 2018, Whitteney Guyton, 43, engaged in a scheme to defraud the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), which administersContinue reading “Suffolk services provider pleads guilty to healthcare fraud”

Oklahoma Medical Clinic, Owners, and Treating Physician Pay $246,000 to Settle Allegations of Submitting False Medicare Claims for Medically Unnecessary Ultrasound Procedures

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Medical Clinic, LLC (“OMC”), Tracy Ellis, D.C., (“Dr. Ellis”) and Tristan Ellis (“Mrs. Ellis”), paid $150,000 to resolve allegations that they submitted or caused the submission of false claims to the Medicare program for medically unnecessary ultrasound procedures, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester. In a separate agreement Mark L. Wells, PA-C (“Mr. Wells”), paid $96,000 toContinue reading “Oklahoma Medical Clinic, Owners, and Treating Physician Pay $246,000 to Settle Allegations of Submitting False Medicare Claims for Medically Unnecessary Ultrasound Procedures”

California Doctor Sentenced for Health Care Fraud Scheme

A California man was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for his role in a $2.8 million fraud scheme in which Medicare was billed for hospice services that the patients did not need. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Thropay, M.D., 75, of Arcadia, was the medical director of multiple hospiceContinue reading “California Doctor Sentenced for Health Care Fraud Scheme”

Home title lock insurance? Not a lock at all 

If you’ve seen ads for home title lock insurance, they might have you worried. After all, the ads say thieves can steal the title to your home. But then the ads tell you to buy title lock insurance to supposedly prevent home title theft. Stop. Take a breath. It’s just a ploy to scare you.Continue reading “Home title lock insurance? Not a lock at all “

Five ways to keep scammers and hackers away

We’re living in the data age. The things we do on our phones and computers, on our internet-enabled smart devices, and on websites leave a trail of our activities and our personal information. That personal information has value — not just to us, but to scammers and hackers who want to steal our identities. HereContinue reading “Five ways to keep scammers and hackers away”

Did you ask for all those add-ons? Protect yourself at the dealership

The signs of a good car-buying experience? Things like trust, transparency, and fairness at the dealership. The signs of a bad car-buying experience? Things like misleading ads, bogus fees, and discriminatory practices. How can you protect yourself when buying a car? According to the FTC and the State of Arizona, at Coulter Motor Company —Continue reading “Did you ask for all those add-ons? Protect yourself at the dealership”

Don’t send your Social Security number to an “employer” on WhatsApp. It’s a scam

You get a text message with a job offer that pays hundreds of dollars a day for doing remote work. It might sound tempting, but here’s the catch: they ask you to text them your Social Security number. Don’t share it. It’s a scam. (Read More)

How to avoid getting burned by solar or clean energy scams

When temperatures rise, utility costs do, too. While reputable companies can help you save money with clean or solar energy improvements, scammers offer more than they can deliver. The scams vary, but here’s the gist: someone claiming to be with the government or your utility company promises big savings on your utility bills from solarContinue reading “How to avoid getting burned by solar or clean energy scams”