Federal prosecutors have obtained another guilty verdict involving a multi-million-dollar Medicare fraud scheme orchestrated by a former Bustleton-based private ambulance company.
Dialysis patient and purported ambulance client Craig Brown, 46, of Philadelphia, admitted to collecting kickbacks from Brotherly Love Ambulance and to making false statements in healthcare matters. He faces up to 25 years in prison, a $1.25 million fine and restitution to Medicare, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In about May 2011, Brown began using Brotherly Love — formerly based at 2200 Michener St. — for transportation to and from his dialysis appointments. The ambulance company, in turn, billed Medicare for the service provided to Brown. Medicare reimbursed Brotherly Love about $18,000 on behalf of Brown.
But Brown was ineligible for ambulance coverage under Medicare because he was capable of getting to his appointments by other means, even driving himself, the federal prosecutor said. Brotherly Love overcame this problem by misrepresenting Brown’s medical condition.
For agreeing to take part in the charade, Brown collected kickback payments from the ambulance company. After a while, the prosecutor said, Brown stopped using the ambulance service altogether but continued to sign reports that Brotherly Love had transported him to his appointments. Brown also got paid by Brotherly Love for referring other patients to the ambulance company.
A grand jury indicted Brown and three other Brotherly Love clients, along with two employees last November. Previously, other company officials, including co-founder and president Feda Kuran, were charged and convicted for their roles in the scheme, which affected $2 million in inappropriate Medicare reimbursements. Kuran was sentenced in November to serve 64 months in prison and to pay restitution. ••
