An ambulance company and its employees were charge with conspiracy to commit health care fraud this week by the Federal Government, which also took the unique step of charging patients who were allegedly getting paid to take the ambulance trips.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged four individuals with allegedly accepting kickbacks from Brotherly Love Ambulance of Northeast Philadelphia as an inducement for accepting medically unnecessary ambulance rides from the company.
Also charged was two Brotherly Love Ambulance Co. employees,Fritzroy Brown, 37, and Thael Kuran, 22, both of Philadelphia, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and making false statements in connection with health care matters.
The government says that the scheme involved more than $4 million in fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare.
The President of Brotherly Love Ambulance, Feda Kuran, 39, was sentenced to 64 months in prison after pleading guilty to health care fraud and paying kickbacks in violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Act.
Patients who were able to walk and travel safely by means other than ambulance were recruited then billing Medicare for providing transportation to the patients who were not eligible for ambulance trips under Medicare requirements.
Jeffrey Newman represents whistleblowers
