61-yr-old Indian-American medical biller arrested for stealing USD 1 million

Authorities in the United States have arrested a 61yearold Indianorigin medical biller for stealing more than USD 1 million from doctors who provided medical care to injured workers in New YorkAmrish Patel and his two companies Medlink Services and Medlink Partners were charged on Wednesday with 27 felony counts for the thefts they allegedly committed from January 2012 through January 2019 New York Attorney General Letitia James announcedPatel and the companies were charged with one count of insurance fraud in the first degree one count of grand larceny in the first degree one count of grand larceny in the second degree one count of grand larceny in the third degree one count of scheme to defraud in the first degree 11 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree and 11 counts of workers compensation fraud according to newswire PTIThe IndianAmerican medical biller was released with electronic monitoring and a USD 100000 bond according to the New York Attorney Generals OfficePatel who provided billing services to a Brooklynbased orthopaedic surgery practice submitted falsified claim forms to the New York State Insurance Fund NYSIF to steal at least USD 11 million in workers compensation reimbursements for himself ldquoDoctors and health care professionals provide crucial care to our communities and they rely on accurate and ethical billing to sustain these services and ensure our wellbeingrdquo said Attorney General JamesAlso read Dawood Ibrahims ancestral properties in Maharashtra to be auctionedldquoWhen money is illegally diverted away from doctors and providers all New Yorkers suffer as a result Fraud of any kind will never go unchecked in our state and my office will continue to use every measure to hold accountable those who seek to cheat New Yorkers for personal gain I thank our partners for their invaluable support and collaboration on this caserdquo JamesFraud in any part of the workers compensation system is detrimental to trust and hurts the entire system including medical providers carriers businesses and injured workers said New York State Insurance Fund Executive Director and CEO Gaurav VasishtldquoI am thankful for the collaboration of the Attorney General and Inspector Generals offices on this investigationrdquo VasishtldquoWorkers compensation fraud is not a victimless crimerdquo said New York State Inspector General Lucy LangldquoThe defendant compromised the integrity of this crucial safety net when he took advantage of his trusted position to ensure accurate billing for medical providers and health insurers I am grateful to the Office of the Attorney General and the New York State Insurance Fund for their partnership in rooting out this fraudrdquoStarting in 2011 the IndianAmerican medical biller and his companies handled billing services for a Brooklynbased orthopaedic surgery practice and were responsible for submitting billing for surgeries related to workrelated injuries under the New York State Workers Compensation LawUnder the law authorised providers are reimbursed for their treatment of injured workers by the insurance carrier for the employerIn total Patel allegedly stole at least USD 11 million in payments originally intended for three doctors for services provided between January 1 2012 and January 4 2019Patel was arraigned on January 3 in Albany City Court He was later released with electronic monitoring and a USD 100000 bond With inputs from PTI