A five year sentence and $3
million in restitution awaits Jonathan Agbebiyi, the Michigan gynecologist
behind a $5.4 million Medicare fraud scheme. Between 2007 and 2010, Agbebiyi
practiced at three different clinics in Livonia, running a Medicare fraud scheme from each.
However, it is not just
Agbebiyi’s fraudulent use of the Medicare system that draws concern, but his
recruitment practices raise alarms as well. Rather than being referred to the
clinic by a primary care physician, Agbebiyi recruited patients with promises
of cash, fast food, and prescriptions for illicit substances.
Once recruited, patients
underwent medically unnecessary neurological tests during which they received electrical
impulses through their arms and legs. Agbebiyi then billed Medicare for these
tests, while patients never received any type of neurological follow-up. Clearly, any legitimate purpose for the tests
was non-existent.
After the FBI investigated the scheme, Agbebiyi was
charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts
of health care fraud. U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade hopes that cases such as
Agbebiyi’s will “deter other doctors from using patients as commodities for
personal gain.”
Cases such as these are common.
The prosecution of Agbebiyi was a direct result of the federal government’s
Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations, which is responsible for charging over
1,330 defendants since 2007, reigning in over $4 billion in fraudulent Medicare
billing practices.
If you need to discuss Medicare or
fraud issues with an attorney, please contact Mark Mandell or Tariq Hafeez at
(248) 380-0000.
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