Lilian J. Pagkaliwangan and husband Raymundo P. Arellano will serve 48 and 42 months respectively for “making false statements in connection with health care benefits and aggravated identity theft,” according to the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. Additionally, the couple will pay more than $600,000 in forfeiture and restitution to Medicare and to Florida Medicaid. According to court documents:

“Pagkaliwangan and Arellano submitted fraudulent claims for reimbursement for services that were not performed by qualified, enrolled Medicaid providers, and falsely represented that the services were performed by qualified, enrolled Medicaid providers. They submitted inflated claims and billed Medicaid for more services than were performed. They submitted claims for reimbursement for work they falsely claimed was performed on days when patients were not even present at their clinic and did not receive any treatment at all.“

“These are vulnerable patient populations, said United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill. “Whenever individuals or companies defraud the Medicare and Medicaid programs there is an erosion of public trust and increased anxiety experienced by Medicare beneficiaries, Medicaid recipients, and legitimate providers regarding the financial stability of the Medicare and Medicare programs.”

To report Medicare fraud or Medicaid fraud, contact Frohsin & Barger.