Prosecutors called the case the largest of its kind in the country. The charges of tax fraud were based on accusations that the surgery center billed insurers for payments for unnecessary surgeries. Roy C. Dickson, an attorney for the ASC, Andrew Harnen, the center’s accountant, and Dee Francis and Rosalinda Landon, administrators, were convicted on multiple counts of tax fraud.
According to the report, prosecutors said the surgery center recruited over 2,800 patients for unnecessary surgeries that were then billed to payors. Payors paid more than $20 million during a nine-month period for the surgeries.
The defendants each face an additional 101 charges for allegedly accepting more than $2.5 million each as part of the scheme. They will be tried on those charges at a later date. Several other defendants have already been convicted in the case, including Unity Outpatient owner Tam Vu Pham, who received a 12-year prison sentence.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
