Four people involved with a San Pierre ambulance service are among those facing criminal charges, following a nationwide crackdown on health care fraud. Edward T. Kerr Jr., Brenda Kerr, Mark K. Estrada, and Tammy Estrada are accused of submitting false claims to Medicare and Medicaid, leading to losses of over $100,000, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch. The four were believed to be involved in the operation of United Mobile Care.
They allegedly sought reimbursements for ambulance transportation of dialysis patients between 2011 and 2016. But according to the charging information, the patients in question were able to walk or get around with a wheelchair, meaning they weren’t eligible for ambulance transportation. Three of the patients were reportedly able to drive themselves.
When employees raised questions, they were allegedly told that the company could still bill for ambulance transportation if a doctor certified that it was medically necessary. The four are also accused of changing or ignoring doctors’ certifications that didn’t support the use of an ambulance. Edward Kerr would also allegedly tell employees that if a patient’s primary doctor wouldn’t certify the need for an ambulance, to find another one who would. Employees were also reportedly directed not to let patients walk to the ambulance and not to use the words “wheelchair, walk, stand, or pivot” in run sheets for the dialysis patients.
The Kerrs and Estrada are charged with 10 counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
The operators of Alliance EMS in Winamac are accused of making similar fraudulent claims between 2010 and 2014. More than 600 people have been charged nationwide in what’s being called the largest health care fraud enforcement action in Department of Justice history.
