The Attorney General of New York yesterday announced the arrest of the owner of two medical billing companies for allegedly stealing more than $1 million that was intended to be paid to doctors who provided care to individuals who were covered under New York’s Workers’ Compensation Law.
The Background: Amrish Patel operated two companies, Medlink Services and Medlink Partners. They provided billing services to an orthopedic surgery practice in Brooklyn and allegedly submitted falsified claims to the New York State Insurance Fund to steal $1.1 million in workers’ compensation reimbursement.
- Over the course of seven years — from 2012 to 2019 — Patel diverted payments that were intended for surgeons at the practice. Rather than submit bills on behalf of the practice and then have the state pay the doctors directly, Patel requested that the falsified claims be paid to his companies instead.
The Charges: Patel and his companies were charged with seven different felonies – 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.
The Last Word: “Doctors 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 wellbeing,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “When 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.”
