On March 9, 2016, Fritzroy Brown of Philadelphia was sentenced to 37 months in prison for a healthcare fraud case centering on Brotherly Love Ambulance, Inc. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Gerald J. Pappert ordered three years of supervised release, restitution in the amount of $2,015,712.52 to Medicare, restitution of $14,150 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and a $300 special assessment. This sentence was after a guilty plea without a trial.
Mr. Brown
was a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with Brotherly Love.
While employed by Brotherly Love, Mr. Brown allegedly transported patients who were able to
walk and could travel safely by means other than ambulance and who, therefore,
were not eligible for ambulance transportation under Medicare
requirements.
This case was unusual since the government also charged Medicare beneficiaries with taking payments for riding with the ambulance company and for making false statements to government investigators.
This case was unusual since the government also charged Medicare beneficiaries with taking payments for riding with the ambulance company and for making false statements to government investigators.
The government alleged that Mr. Brown and other conspirators falsified reports to make it
appear that the patients needed to be transported by ambulance when he knew
that the patients could be safely transported by other means and, in fact, many
of them could walk. In addition, the government further alleged that Mr. Brown and other conspirators paid
kickbacks to patients to ensure that they would use Brotherly Love Ambulance
for services which were not medically necessary.
The company also allegedly transmitted bills for ambulance services for patients who were not transported by ambulance, but whom Mr. Brown and others drove in personal vehicles. The government further claimed that Mr. Brown and others completed documentation of these transports that made it appear that the individuals had been transported in an ambulance when they had not, and that misrepresented the medical care provided to and safety precautions taken for these patients.
The company also allegedly transmitted bills for ambulance services for patients who were not transported by ambulance, but whom Mr. Brown and others drove in personal vehicles. The government further claimed that Mr. Brown and others completed documentation of these transports that made it appear that the individuals had been transported in an ambulance when they had not, and that misrepresented the medical care provided to and safety precautions taken for these patients.
