The owner of two Brooklyn, N.Y., medical clinics, Valentina Kovalienko, has pleaded guilty to her role in a $55 million healthcare fraud and money laundering conspiracy, and agreed to forfeit $29.3 million, which is traceable to her criminal conduct, according to the Department of Justice.
Ms. Kovalienko admitted she and her co-conspirators engaged in a scheme that involved paying patients kickbacks to subject themselves to medically unnecessary physical and occupational therapy, diagnostic tests and office visits that were not performed by licensed professionals. The medical clinics submitted the claims for the unnecessary treatment to Medicare and Medicaid from February 2008 to February 2011.
Ms. Kovalienko also admitted she diverted funds deposited into the clinics' bank accounts by Medicare and Medicaid to herself and her co-conspirators and to the patients to whom kickbacks were paid, according to the DOJ.
At least 10 others, including medical directors of both clinics, three former occupational therapists and a former physical therapist, have also pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme.
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