Posted on 10/22/2010 10:09:58 AM PDT by Qbert
MIAMI (Reuters) - The top two officials of a leading chain of community mental health centers were among four people arrested in Miami on Thursday in connection with a scheme involving about $200 million in fraudulent medical claims, U.S. prosecutors said.
The four conspired to charge Medicare, the federal health insurance plan for the elderly and disabled, for mental health services that were either unnecessary or never provided to patients, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The arrested were: Lawrence Duran, owner of American Therapeutic Corp; Marianella Valera, chief executive officer of the company; and two other senior employees of American Therapeutic. The company is among the nation's largest chain of community mental health centers licensed by Medicare.
They were charged in a 13-count indictment with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to receive healthcare kickbacks and to pay healthcare kickbacks.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
VALERA, MARIANELLA MIAMI,FL 33145 AMERICAN THERAPEUTIC/DRUG COUNSELOR 10/5/09 $2,400 Meek, Kendrick B (D)
VALERA, MARIANELLA MIAMI,FL 33145 AMERICAN THERAPEUTIC CORPORATION/OW 2/4/10 $1,500 Lincoln, Blanche (D)
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DURAN, LAWRENCE MIAMI,FL 33181 AMERICAN THERAPEUTIC CORPORATION/OW 2/4/10 $1,500 Lincoln, Blanche (D)
Democrat corruption in South Florida?
Huh.
Who’d’a thunk it?
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