Ankita Singh, a 42-year-old formerly from Maumee, Ohio, received a 26-month prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary for her role in defrauding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Medicare Program. Additionally, Singh was ordered to pay $4,470,931.02 in restitution, serve two years of supervised release, and pay a $600 special assessment fee.
Conviction and Sentencing of Ankita SIngh
A jury convicted Singh of six counts of health care fraud on 29 February 2024. The charges stemmed from her signing fraudulent orders for orthotic braces that patients neither requested nor needed. This was part of a broader scheme to exploit the Medicare system. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of Singh’s crimes and serves as a deterrent to similar fraudulent activities.
The DME Scheme
Beginning in 2019, Singh served as an independent contractor for at least two companies that supposedly offered telehealth services. However, these services were merely a front for fraudulent activities. Instead of conducting actual patient consultations, Singh was paid to sign fraudulent orders for orthotic braces. Telemarketers were falsely promising them free orthotic braces by cold-calling them. These beneficiaries were not Singh’s patients, and she never interacted with them. She neither met them in person nor conducted any telehealth consultations.
The telemarketers prepared orders using the beneficiaries’ personal information and fabricated diagnoses to justify the braces. These orders were then electronically sent to Singh, who signed them, falsely certifying that she was treating these Medicare beneficiaries and that the braces were medically necessary. Over time, Singh signed more than 11,000 prescriptions for orthotic braces for around 3,000 Medicare beneficiaries without ever examining them. In many cases, she ordered multiple braces for each patient.
Telemedicine Health Care Fraud
Telemedicine health care fraud involves the deceptive use of telehealth services to obtain financial benefits unlawfully from health care programs or insurance companies. In this type of fraud, individuals exploit telemedicine platforms by conducting fake or non-existent consultations, often using fabricated patient information and false medical justifications to generate fraudulent claims. This can include billing for services that were never provided, signing off on unnecessary medical equipment, or misrepresenting the nature of the consultations to receive improper payments from Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurers. Telemedicine fraud undermines the integrity of the health care system, defrauds patients and payers, and can lead to significant financial losses and legal consequences.
Financial Impact on Medicare
Singh’s fraudulent orders resulted in Medicare being billed over $8 million for unnecessary orthotic devices. Medicare ultimately paid about $4.47 million in claims for the fraudulent prescriptions signed by Singh. This significant financial loss highlights the impact of health care fraud on the Medicare system and underscores the need for strict enforcement to protect public funds.
Investigation and Prosecution
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – Office of Inspector General, and the FBI conducted a thorough investigation that exposed the extent of Singh’s fraudulent activities and provided the necessary evidence for her conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gene Crawford and Angelita Cruz Bridges from the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case, ensuring that justice was served.
Implications and Way Forward
Singh’s sentencing serves as a strong warning about the consequences of committing health care fraud. The case illustrates the vulnerabilities in the Medicare system that can be exploited by unethical individuals. It also emphasises the crucial role of regulatory agencies and law enforcement in detecting and prosecuting fraudulent activities.
Ankita Singh’s 26-month prison sentence, along with the substantial restitution and supervised release, underscores the severity of her actions in defrauding the Medicare program. Her participation in the DME scheme led to significant financial losses and undermined the integrity of the health care system. The successful investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of the HHS Office of Inspector General and the FBI to protecting public funds and ensuring accountability for those who engage in fraudulent activities.
