Here are four physician fraud cases Becker’s has reported on since June 17:
1. Columbus, Ohio-based Robert Florea, MD, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for a $1.5 million Medicaid fraud scheme. Dr. Florea fraudulently billed the Ohio Department of Medicaid for over 5,100 pieces of medical equipment, primarily braces for joints and back pain, that he never purchased. Records show he bought only 460 items over three years, resulting in a $1.5 million loss.
2. Chesterfield, Mo.-based Stanley Librach, MD, has been sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $2.87 million in restitution for his role in a healthcare fraud scheme. In the first scheme, Dr. Librach conspired with Asim Muhammad Ali, MD, and chiropractor Jerry Leech to refer urine samples to Central Diagnostic Laboratory in exchange for illegal kickbacks. The second scheme involved Drs. Librach and Ali, along with Mr. Leech, issuing prescriptions for opioids such as oxycodone without legitimate medical justification. Instead of evaluating patients, the physicians spent several hours each week pre-signing prescriptions to be used during future clinic visits, according to the department.
3. Duane Dixon, a former Roanoke, Va., physician, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for healthcare fraud and illegal opioid prescribing. Mr. Dixon pleaded guilty in 2023 to distributing opioids without medical purpose and ignoring fraud at clinics operated by L5 Medical Holdings — Pain Care Center
4. Lilit Baltaian, MD, physician from Porter Ranch, Calif., was sentenced to 54 months in prison for falsifying home health certifications and fraudulently billing Medicare. From January 2012 to July 2018, Dr. Baltaian falsely certified patients to receive home healthcare from at least four Los Angeles-area agencies.
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