Power wheelchairs and orthotic devices yet again lure unscrupulous businesspeople with the promise of easy money from Medicare reimbursements — ultimately landing those people in jail. Doris Vinitski and John Lachman face up to ten years in prison for a conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and pay illegal kickbacks, says DoJ. The pair, an estranged married couple, pleaded guilty yesterday and admitted that they paid $1,000 kickbacks to patient-recruiters to get Medicare beneficiaries, in order to bill the government for unnecessary or non-existent durable medical equipment. Such DME kickback schemes are becoming increasingly common and place a heavy burden on the already overly strained Medicare system.

To report DME fraud, kickback violations, or other Medicare fraud, contact Frohsin & Barger.