OWNER OF WESTERVILLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY ORDERED TO PAY MORE THAN $214,000 IN RESTITUTION TO MEDICAID
Public Affairs Officer
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COLUMBUS – Paul Brockman, 42, of Columbus was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to one year and one day in prison, and ordered to repay Medicaid $214,018.92 for making false statements on bills he sent to the government insurance program. Brockman owned Midwest Medical Equipment, which was headquartered in Westerville, Ohio.
Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, and Lamont Pugh, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Gregory Frost.
Brockman pleaded guilty on May 7, 2012 to one count of making false statements involving health care. According to court documents, Brockman frequently billed Medicaid for “new” durable medical equipment when he was providing Medicaid recipients with “used” durable medical equipment. The fraudulent billing occurred when customers passed away and the deceased’s family sold their equipment back to Midwest Medical. Brockman would provide the same piece of equipment to a new customer and bill the item to Medicaid Program as “new” equipment.
Brockman also billed the Medicaid program for medical equipment that he either never provided to recipients, or provided years after having received payment from the Medicaid program.
Medicaid is a federally funded, state-administered government insurance program that provides health care coverage to low-income individuals and families.
“Individuals or health care company employees who suspect fraud against government health insurance programs can report them anonymously online at www.stopmedicarefraud.gov, or by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477),” U.S. Attorney Stewart said.
People can also report suspected Medicaid fraud to Attorney General DeWine’s office by calling 1-800-282-0515 or visiting www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Affeldt and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn P. Napier with Attorney General DeWine’s Office. The investigation was conducted by Special Agents of the HHS-OIG and the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
