ATLANTA - Brett Sabado has been sentenced for his role in a scheme to defraud Tricare and Medicare by submitting fraudulent claims for compound medications and durable medical equipment (DME). Sabado also agreed to pay $950,000 as part of an “ability to pay” civil settlement in order to resolve violations of the False Claims Act for causing false claims for DME to be submitted to the Medicare Program. This resolution is the result of a global investigation involving the criminal and civil divisions of the Northern District of Georgia and the Southern District of California.
“Instead of putting patient care first, the defendants decided their best interests were more important,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Healthcare providers and pharmacies who use their positions of trust to game the system, specifically designed to maximize their profits, put their patients at risk and divert scarce government resources.”
“Through federal healthcare programs like Medicare and TRICARE, the United States provides essential medical care for the elderly and disabled, and to service members and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman of the Southern District of California. “It is crucial that the American people know that taxpayer funds are being used for these important purposes and not diverted through the schemes of fraudsters. I am proud of the coordination and cooperation among districts and agencies reflected in this outcome,” he added, commending the work of the...
University of Rochester Medical Center and a former pathologist resolved a retaliation suit alleging URMC violated the False Claims Act by firing her for calling attention to federal grant fraud. ...