Medical Supply Company Owner Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for $30M Medicare, TRICARE, and CHAMPVA Fraud

The U.S. Department of Justice reports in its press release (quotation, not an independent finding): “An Oklahoma business owner and chiropractor was sentenced yesterday to 14 years in prison for his role in a years-long scheme that attempted to bilk Medicare, TRICARE, and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) out of over $30 million for orthotics braces, continuous glucose monitors, and other durable medical equipment (DME) that beneficiaries did not want or need. “Yesterday's 14-year sentence shows that health care fraud does not pay,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division. “The Department is committed to bringing to justice those who corrupt our health care system by paying illegal kickbacks, submitting false claims, deceiving programs that serve our seniors, service members, and veterans, and treating sensitive patient information like a commodity to be bought and sold.” “Fraud against federal health care programs is a direct attack on the public’s trust and on the vulnerable individuals these programs are meant to protect, and the jury’s verdict and sentencing of Mark Loftis demonstrate that schemes of this kind will be met with decisive action and significant consequences,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “HHS-OIG will not hesitate to investigate and dismantle criminal conduct wherever it threatens the integrity of federal programs, and this case reflects the unwavering commitment of our agency and our law-enforcement ”