A federal grand jury has handed down a six-count indictment against Ankita Singh, 39, formerly of Maumee, who faces charges of fraudulently billing Medicare $8.4 million.
According to the indictment, Dr. Singh was a statelicensed physician practicing in Maumee and Toledo. From June 2018 through May 2021, Dr. Singh allegedly participated in a scheme to bill Medicare approximately $8.4 million in durable medical equipment, prosthetics/orthotics and supplies that were medically unnecessary.
As part of the scheme, Acting U.S. Attorney Michelle Baeppler said telemarketers and call centers would contact or cold-call Medicare beneficiaries to convince them to agree to receive equipment, specifically braces, in the mail. The call center operators and telemarketers often told beneficiaries the braces would be provided at no cost and that a doctor would be contacting them.
Court records state that call centers and telemarketers would then use general information about the beneficiary, including their name, Medicare number and purported diagnosis, to prepare order forms certifying that the equipment and supplies were medically necessary.
Dr. Singh allegedly received these order forms and signed them, even though the defendant had never spoken to, examined, assessed or otherwise established a doctorpatient relationship with the beneficiary. As a result, suppliers shipped the items listed on the order forms to beneficiaries and submitted a corresponding claim to Medicare.
The doctor will be tried in federal court and if convicted, could face fines and a jail term.
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody King will serve as prosecutor.
