A medical professional convicted
of health care fraud stands to lose nearly everything.
On June 10, Northville pharmacist
Lokesh Tayal was convicted of one count of health care fraud conspiracy and one
count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances – both of which are
felonies. Mr. Tayal was sentenced to 5
years and 8 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution of more than
$3.6 million.
In addition, the Michigan Department of Licensing and
Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has suspended Mr. Tayal’s pharmacy license.
The conviction and license
suspension stem from a case involving multiple area pharmacists. According to the U.S. Attorneys on the case,
the pharmacists participated in an elaborate scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid,
and Blue Cross Blue Shield. The pharmacists paid cash kickbacks and other
illegal remuneration to physicians to get them to write prescriptions that were
medically unnecessary.
The pharmacists then billed for
expensive medication that was never disbursed or was not medically necessary,
according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The U.S. Attorney summarized the
Federal government’s current stance on health care fraud when she said “these
defendants stole money from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which are
designed to provide health care and medicine to some of our most vulnerable
citizens.”
With the recent crackdown on
fraud, medical professionals are facing not only hefty prison time and fines,
but also the loss of their livelihood – revocation of their professional
licenses. If you have been indicted or
are concerned about health care fraud, contact the experienced and professional
fraud team at Fausone Bohn, LLP for sound legal advice. Contact us at (248) 380-0000 or online at www.MichiganFraudLawyer.com.
To read the article about these
fraud convictions, please visit: http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013306280006
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