MEDI-CAL FRAUD: Four More Suspects Charged
Continuing his crusade against Medi-Cal fraud, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D) announced Monday that officials had arrested and charged four people with bilking more than $500,000 from the state health program, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports. Prosecutors charged the four suspects with identity theft and Medi-Cal fraud. According to prosecutors, the defendants submitted fraudulent claims for reimbursement for blood tests, using physician names and Medi-Cal provider numbers without proper authorization. They also allegedly operated the New Era Medical Laboratory for eight months before closing it down and then worked out of California Lab Access for another seven months. A fifth suspect remains at large. In the past 16 months, the attorney general's office has handled 35 felony cases involving medical laboratories, racking up 13 convictions to date (6/6).
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