A federal jury on Thursday convicted a Bowie, Md., couple of orchestrating a multi-year campaign to defraud D.C. Medicaid of more than $80 million between 2009 and 2014, the largest local health-care fraud scheme ever prosecuted in the city.
After a four-week trial in federal district court in the District, the jury deliberated two days before convicting Florence Bikundi, 52, of four counts of health-care and Medicaid fraud and conspiracy, and her husband, Michael D. Bikundi Sr., 63, of two counts of fraud and conspiracy through her company, Global Health Care Services of the District.
Jurors found the couple guilty of eight counts of money laundering and conspiracy through the District-based home health-care firm, and acquitted them of three others.
U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell set sentencing for Feb. 26.
The Bikundis, originally from Cameroon, face up to decades in prison, and potentially deportation, although their attorneys are expected to seek less time.
Virginia had already revoked Ms. Bikundi’s license. She should have never allowed to be a provider. As soon as politicians get hold of this story, the Medicare and Medicaid abuse stories will take on a life of their own. Unfortunately, the losers will be the patients, not these immoral bastards who are bilking the government out of millions of dollars. Additionally, if someone is getting itchy fingers to deport someone, I would start here, once the prison sentences have been served.
Somehow, when politicians get hold of stories like this, there always ends up being a cut back at the patient level, not at the dishonest provider level.
The Washington Post further reports:
In closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lionel A. André said that the Bikundis used Global Health Care Services as a simple yet massive “get-rich-quick scheme” that enlisted trusted relatives and others to sign up and coach Medicaid recipients who received kickbacks for submitting fraudulent claims for health care that never was provided.
“They used Global as a vehicle to take D.C. Medicaid for a ride, and to bilk them of millions and millions and millions of dollars,” André said. “This was Florence and Michael Bikundi’s money train,” he said. She was the “engineer and driver,” and he was “the conductor” who decided who would get paid and when subordinates would be cut out, André said.
How many more creeps are out there doing this? That might explain our Medicare problems.
You know who else you can throw into that “immoral bastard” group “bilking the government out of millions of dollars”?
Planned Parenthood
In 2013 Planned Parenthood paid $4.3 million to settle fraudulent Medicaid billing in Texas for over $6 million in false claims as well as attempted cover up.
Those immoral bastards, someone at Planned Parenthood should be in prison right now, right?
If a planned parenthood affiliate in Texas defrauded the government, then those responsible should be treated just as these crooks were.
The entire organization isn’t responsible. The crooks are. Want to leave some specifics from a reputable newspaper? Was there a conviction? I would assume that would be in the report.
Stealing is stealing, in my book.
@Moon-howler
Sure, link is below… however, that is just one example from Texas and it wasn’t with just one affiliate. That case involves at least 5 affiliates (two in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Brownsville). There are many of examples of Planned Parenthood bilking Medicaid for millions of dollars in other states, immoral bastards.
What about Iowa? 17 year Planned Parenthood employee and manager Sue Thayer blew the whistle that they were paying $3 for birth control pills but Planned Parenthood charged Medicaid $35 and this has been going of for years. That’s not just ‘an affiliate’, that is the organization.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323455104579016951262314732
Let’s see what Congress will do – there is proposed legislation to try and curb fraud, but will Congress act on a bill proposed by a Democrat? http://www.timesargus.com/article/20151110/NEWS03/151119975
Congress will probably do nothing – http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/395711/bold-prediction-2015-congress-wont-do-anything-about-billions-medicare-and-medicaid
The prosecutions are not enough and the punishment is usually too light.
@Jackson Bills
I just get all up in arms when medical facilities charge more for products than they pay for them. Somehow doctors have to be paid and equipment has to be bought. I suppose I am wincing at the thought of someone having to pay 35 bux for birth control. I thought Obama care did away with that?
Where I would react is if someone was lining their own pockets at tax payer expense.
I can tell you right now that Medicare has absolutely ridiculous rules. One of my medical providers got in big trouble with them and Medicaid. It isn’t hard to do. It turned out that they eventually just stopped taking insurance for the service they provided.
@Jackson Bills
I can’t see the story because I don’t subscribe. Are there other sources? I have no problem with WSJ, just too cheap to subscribe.