Source: United States Department of Justice News
ATLANTA – Nagaindra Srivastav has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and kickback charges for his role in selling fraudulent doctors’ orders to his co-conspirators, who used the orders to obtain at least $25 million in fraudulent payments from Medicare.
“Srivastav and his co-conspirators targeted our most vulnerable citizens to line their pockets with taxpayer money,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our office is committed to finding and prosecuting those who exploit telemedicine and use it as a platform for their criminal schemes.”
“Healthcare fraud touches every corner of the United States. Srivastav’s actions cost taxpayers at least $25 million dollars,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “His criminal conduct was driven by personal greed. This guilty plea will serve as a reminder to others that the FBI and its law enforcement partners will investigate and prosecute individuals illegally exploiting healthcare technology for their own riches.”
“Health care fraud is not a victimless crime and those who defraud federal health care programs carelessly waste valuable taxpayer dollars and contribute to the rising cost of health care,” said Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles, at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG remains committed to investigating and holding accountable perpetrators of health care fraud.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Srivastav was the owner of B2B Apps Solutions (“B2B”), a Florida-based company. Through B2B, Srivastav and his co-conspirators created and operated an internet-based platform that individuals and businesses in the health care industry used for the purchase and sale of physician orders for Durable Medical Equipment (“DME”), such as ankle, back, knee, or leg braces.
Through B2B, Srivastav paid and received remuneration for the referral of federal health care business. To accomplish this, Srivastav created a website, RepsHub, in which DME companies and others uploaded potential DME-patient information, called “leads,” which were generally obtained through telemarketing campaigns targeting beneficiaries for whom DME products could be billed. In addition, and in conjunction with his selling of physician orders, Srivastav also offered and sold leads, which he obtained through call centers controlled by himself and his co-conspirators.
Srivastav purchased the physicians’ orders that he sold to his customers from purported telemedicine companies based in the Philippines and Pakistan. These orders lacked medical necessity, and Srivastav was notified on numerous occasions that the purported authorizing physician had not actually spoken with the patient, signed the order, or prescribed the braces. Although Srivastav never personally submitted claims to Medicare or any other health care program, he is responsible for at least $25 million in federal health care program reimbursement.
Sentencing for Nagaindra Srivastav, 58, of Tampa, Florida, is scheduled for January 19, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones.
This case is being investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. O’Neal is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.