Ravi Murali, MD, 39, faced a 12-count indictment for his role in the healthcare fraud scheme. He pleaded guilty to one of the 12 charges March 31.
According to prosecutors, Dr. Murali ordered medical braces for Medicare beneficiaries regardless of medical necessity when he was working for various telemedicine companies. In particular, Dr. Murali signed orders for medical braces for Medicare beneficiaries indicating that he spoke with the beneficiary, established a relationship with them and conducted examinations. However, prosecutors said these statements were rarely true.
As a result of the scheme, that took place from January 2017 to January 2020, Dr. Murali falsely billed Medicare $26 million. Medicare ended up paying $13 million, and Dr. Murali was paid about $30 for each telemedicine consult.
Dr. Murali’s sentencing is scheduled for August. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
More articles on healthcare finance:
CMS delays some application requests for rural payment model
Northwell hospital charged 30x more for COVID-19 tests in its ED
‘A gut punch’: Florida hospitals slam $500M in proposed Medicaid cuts
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
