Posted on Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 8:12 a.m.
Feds fear pharmacist accused of leading $57 million drug scam could flee
By Cindy Heflin
Federal officials fear a Canton pharmacist who is the main target of an investigation into what they say is a $57 million scam to charge the government for pills not needed or never prescribed could flee the country, the Detroit Free Press reports.
A federal grand jury in Detroit indicted Babubhai (Bob) Patel and 25 other people last week in a multimillion-dollar scheme to bill Medicare and Medicaid for painkillers that weren't medically necessary.
Comments
treetowncartel
Sat, Aug 13, 2011 : 2:16 a.m.
Report it to the local police, you can also folow these guidelines <a href="http://www.cms.gov/FraudAbuseforConsumers/02_How_to_Report_Suspected_Fraud.asp" rel='nofollow'>http://www.cms.gov/FraudAbuseforConsumers/02_How_to_Report_Suspected_Fraud.asp</a> <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-27417_27647---,00.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-27417_27647---,00.html</a>
Perry
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 8:52 p.m.
How do you go about reporting something? I had an issue at a pharmacy in Canton. I'm thinking the doctor and the pharmacy have something like this going on!
BhavanaJagat
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.
This is indeed a major concern. We had similar incidents in the State of Florida. Apparently, pharmacists can easily loot the Medicare and Medicaid dollars if they have a computer and the relevant identification information to send the bills. Drugs need not be prescribed, and need not be delivered to individual patients. The pharmacy retail operation is established to provide cover for this kind of criminal activity. It is reasonable to keep this suspect under arrest as requested by the Feds. I have been reading similar stories for a long time, and I am getting convinced by the demands made by Republicans that funding of Medicare and Medicaid must be restricted. We simply do not have the ability to exercise supervision of these programs, and corruption has literally consumed them. This kind of corruption must be treated like a cancerous growth. These programs must be surgically excised and removed to protect the health and well-being of our society and nation.
treetowncartel
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 2:48 a.m.
Quit drinking the koolaid. He and his pharmacy had a summary suspension in 2006. <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-8347-133557--,00.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-8347-133557--,00.html</a> These pharmacies were not under his direct control. He brought in people on Visas to work in and run them. <a href="http://www.myvisajobs.com/Visa-Sponsor/Levan-Pharmacy/318987.htm" rel='nofollow'>http://www.myvisajobs.com/Visa-Sponsor/Levan-Pharmacy/318987.htm</a> Don't blame the people on the Visas, they think they have to do what he says or they will have to leave. They don't understand the how the law works. They also think Medicare is the gooose that lays a golden egg.
Chris 8 - YPSI PRIDE
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 1:09 a.m.
According to the Free Press story, there are two sides to this story. The government claims he is a sophisticated criminal, while the community claims he is a modcel citizen. I would really like to see how this one plays out in court. In the mean time he is innocent until proven guilty according to the law. If he owns 80 pharmacies, it would be more then appropriate for him to be released on bond with every asset he has here in the united states frozen except to feed and house his family and fund his defense. His passport was taken. An ankle bracelet with GPS attached would monitor his every move. (Made of steel of course and immediately alerting authorities if tampered with) If he owns 80 pharmacies there are going to obviously be innocent patients affected if he is kept locked up right now. I am a citizen born on this land and I never ever assume anyone is guilty until I hear the facts. I have also through out my life read enough about corrupt prosecutors supressing evidence as well as producing false evidence. Let the Jury hear the facts and make the decision. In the mean time there is plenty of insurance right here to ensure he will not flee.
Mr Blue
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 2:54 p.m.
Michigan AG Scheutte goes after medical marijuana users while multi million dollar pharmaceutical scams like this proliferate.
Mr. Ed
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
Greed