Post by Scumhunter on Jun 22, 2020 3:35:21 GMT -5
Above photo credit: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services- Office of Inspector General website)
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)- Office of Inspector General (OIG) website):
On June 13, 2011, an arrest warrant was issued against Gautam Gupta, charging him with healthcare fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit fraud. Dr. Gupta and his associates allegedly received approximately $25 million in reimbursements from Medicaid and private health insurers for medical services that were either unnecessary or not performed.
Dr. Gupta owned and operated the Nutrition Clinic, a weight loss clinic with several locations in Northern Illinois and the Chicago metropolitan area. According to the arrest warrant, the clinic required new patients to undergo medical tests, such as thyroid ultrasounds and echocardiograms, without regard to medical necessity for the tests. The Nutrition Clinic would then submit claims to Medicaid and private insurance companies, indicating that these tests were related to a specific medical diagnosis.
The clinic also allegedly submitted claims for "evaluation and management" services performed by Dr. Gupta, when in actuality neither Dr. Gupta nor any other medical doctor saw these patients. In addition, investigators found that Dr. Gupta directed office staff to enlist insured patients for additional procedures, such as "nuclear stress tests" that were not medically necessary. The clinic would then bill the patients, Medicaid, and private insurers for those services.
Authorities believe that Gupta is currently residing in India.
On July 14, 2011, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois issued another news release related to Dr. Gupta: Indictment Charges Two Doctors with Defrauding Medicaid, Insurance Companies of $24 Million in Operation of Weight-Loss Clinics
oig.hhs.gov/fraud/fugitives/profiles.asp#other-fugitives (scroll down for case)
Thoughts? As of this posting date (June 22nd, 2020), Gupta remains listed as a wanted fugitive on the HHS-OIG website.
Admin Note #1: According to the HHS-OIG website, anyone having information on this fugitive should report a tip via the following link: tips.oig.hhs.gov/report-a-fugitive/create-complaint
Admin Note #2: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form
). This certainly explains why it's been over a decade since I've heard any of them.