Medicare Fraud Strike Force Cases Result in Long Prison Terms for Five Health Care Comp...(nd medicine based onprescriptions for n...),Health

Seruya was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marcia G. Cooke for his involvement in two separate Medicare fraud schemes. Seruya owned and operated Bedat Management, Inc., a fraudulent HIV infusion clinic, and Medical Respiratory Equipment, Inc., a fraudulent DME company. Between 2001 and 2004, Seruya used these two companies to submit over $15.5 million in fraudulent Medicare claims. Seruya pleaded guilty on Sept. 26, 2007. Seruya operated Bedat as an infusion clinic and paid HIV positive Medicare patients cash kickbacks to allegedly administer unnecessary medications such as Intravenous Immune Globulin and Intravenous Rho D Immune Globulin.

Gourie was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Seitz. Gourie owned and operated Friends Medical Inc., another fraudulent DME company that had nothing to do with providing health care or necessary medical equipment. Friends Medical submitted claims to Medicare of more than $5.4 million, between September 2004 and September 2006, for medical equipment largely consisting of unnecessary power wheelchairs and incontinence supplies. Gourie pleaded guilty on Oct. 4, 2007.

Garcia was sentenced to by U.S. District Judge Donald L. Graham. Garcia owned and operated Northwest Medical Equipment Inc., a fraudulent DME company that had nothing to do with providing health care or necessary medical equipment. Between January and December 2006, Northwest Medical submitted claims to Medicare of more than $4.5 million for medical equipment largely consisting of unnecessary wound care supplies, pressure-reducing mattresses, and oxygen concentrators. Garcia pleaded guilty on Oct. 3, 2007.

Ruiz, the owner of Solair Medical Corp., was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Federico A. Moreno. Ruiz owned and operated Solair Medical Corp., another fraudulent DME company. Solair Medical submitted claims to Medicare of approximately $980,000
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