D.C. Doc Writes Prescription for Health Care Fraud

United States Attorney Kenneth Wainstein, Interim District of Columbia Inspector General Austin Andersen, Regional Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services Patrick Doyle, and Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Michael Mason recently announced that Larry J. Solomon, 51, of Glen Dale, Maryland, was indicted on charges of health care fraud, false statements in regard to health care, and money laundering by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia. Solomon faces in excess of 50 years of incarceration if he is convicted of all counts in the indictment.

According to the Indictment, between May 1999 and March 2005, Solomon represented himself to be a physician assistant who provided services in the District of Columbia. Solomon managed BPS Medical and Rehabilitation P.L.L.C. (“BPS Medical”), which was incorporated in the District of Columbia in order to provide health care to the public through one or more out-patient medical clinics.

Solomon also was a manager of Diversified Medical and Associates (“Diversified Medical”), which was incorporated in the District of Columbia in order to provide health care to the public through one or more out-patient medical clinics. BPS Medical and Diversified Medical operated a clinic on 8th Street, NE, Washington, D.C. Later the business moved to other locations in the District of Columbia, including Benning Road, NE, as well as Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway, Bowie, Maryland.

Solomon then expanded his practice to include conducting home visits to senior citizens living in private and public residential buildings throughout the District of Columbia. BPS Medical and Diversified Medical participated in the Medicaid program and the Medicare program.

The Indictment alleges that Solomon incorporated companies involved in transferring money generated from BPS Medical’s fraudulent billing of Medicare and Medicaid. These corporations included: Solomon Administrative and Medical Services (“SAMS”); POTSOL Management Services Inc. (“POTSOL”); Diversified Medical and Associates; Diversified Medical Supply; S-C Properties; Katie’s Fashions; and Solomon-Crozier Construction Company. Solomon also allegedly opened numerous bank accounts in conjunction with these companies.

The Indictment alleges further that Solomon would:

– cause claims to be submitted to Medicare and Medicaid for services on dates when neither he nor any other employee of BPS Medical had provided services;

– cause claims to be submitted to Medicare and Medicaid using medical billing codes that applied to services that were more comprehensive and lengthy than the services actually provided;

– cause claims to be submitted to Medicare and Medicaid for services even though no services were provided because the patients were hospitalized on the dates for which the services were claimed;

– cause claims to be submitted to Medicare and Medicaid for services even though the patients were deceased on the dates for which the services were claimed; and

– cause claims to be submitted to Medicare at a physician’s rate even though the defendant, Larry Solomon, or another physician assistant actually provided the service to the beneficiary.

The Indictment alleges further that Solomon used revenues generated from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to purchase automobiles, clothing, and insurance policies; to make credit card and child support payments; and to pay property taxes and mortgage payments on a house in Glen Dale, Md.