Jay Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Role In Medicare Scheme

March 12, 2012

A Jay man was sentenced Friday to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a Medicare fraud kickback scheme that funneled patients through a fraudulent mental health company.

Barry Nash, 69, was also sentenced by U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King in Miami to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.  Nash pleaded guilty in January to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.  Nash was the owner and operator of Starter House, a halfway house operating in Broward County.

Nash admitted that, in exchange for illegal health care kickbacks, he agreed to refer Medicare beneficiaries who resided at Starter House to American Therapeutic Corporation (ATC) and American Sleep Institute (ASI), a company related to ATC.  Nash knew that ATC and ASI fraudulently billed Medicare for partial hospitalization program (PHP) services and sleep treatment purportedly provided to his referrals.  PHP is a form of intensive mental health treatment.

According to court documents, ATC’s principals paid kickbacks to owners and operators of assisted living facilities and halfway houses and to patient brokers in exchange for delivering ineligible patients to ATC and ASI.  In some cases, the patients received a portion of those kickbacks.  Throughout the course of the ATC conspiracy, millions of dollars in kickbacks were paid in exchange for Medicare beneficiaries who did not qualify for PHP services.  Ultimately, ATC and ASI billed Medicare for more than $200 million in medically unnecessary services.

According to the plea agreement, Nash’s participation in the fraud resulted in more than $959,901 in fraudulent billing to the Medicare program.

Comments

12 Responses to “Jay Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Role In Medicare Scheme”

  1. Shay on March 17th, 2012 10:05 pm

    Thanks to Obama care more money is being put towards fighting fraud. For the first time in years we have actually gotten back billions to Medicare. I’m ll for catching people ripping off a program for our seniors.

  2. S.L.B on March 13th, 2012 4:14 pm

    To mmmm:
    LOL…that’s a good one!

  3. mmmm on March 13th, 2012 7:59 am

    MAYBE HE CAN BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA!

  4. MAGGIE Simi on March 12th, 2012 11:40 am

    OH MY

  5. Jack on March 12th, 2012 10:54 am

    Jane…”This is just one reason that we need to investigate where your tax dollars are going! ”
    Apparently they do investigate. That’s how they found the fraud.

  6. Oh well on March 12th, 2012 10:27 am

    What’s the problem, it’s just Obama care. Everythings a scam.

  7. JM on March 12th, 2012 8:50 am

    What a sorry mess. I can’t believe he only got 2 years. Will he have to pay
    restitution? 69 years old and still doesn’t know right from wrong!

  8. Dan on March 12th, 2012 7:53 am

    I hope that they seize ALL of his assets to use for repayment
    to the taxpayers who bankrolled his crimes !!!

  9. Mark I on March 12th, 2012 7:29 am

    That’s IT crime does pay sometimes!!

  10. Kesha Lewis-Clark on March 12th, 2012 7:26 am

    Yes I agree look close at your bills and report when this is done. Also make sure they are not being billed twice for the same service. They school district does this sometimes for children and they can fix it when told aboout it.

  11. 429SCJ on March 12th, 2012 6:42 am

    Nobody, but Nobody comitts Medicare Fraud ,and ESCAPES JUSTICE! Almost.

  12. Jane on March 12th, 2012 5:19 am

    This is just one reason that we need to investigate where your tax dollars are going! SSI and Medicare are prime targets for fraud because so many people don’t look closely or question their medical bills.