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Fraud Clamp Down Continues

Efforts to clamp down on health care fraud continue across Florida, different media report.

In Tavares, Randall C. Ritch was convicted of Medicaid fraud, identity theft and operating an unlicensed health-care clinic, the Orlando Sentinel reports. He was sentenced to 15 years probation and ordered to repay more than $83,000 to the state Medicaid program. Ritch was arrested in June 2013 and accused of submitting about 800 false claims.

In Orange County, speech therapist Tiffany Campbell was arrested Friday for filing records for  therapy she never rendered and led her employer to bill Medicaid for more than $8,000, according to the Orlando Sentinel.  Parents of Campbell’s patients, who ranged in age from 3 to 13, claimed she regularly canceled appointments.  She could face up to $10,000 in fines or up to five years in prison.

Finally, in Naples, sentencing has been delayed for the mother-and-son owners of Sunshine Pharmacy. Del Parrish and Patricia Parrish were scheduled to be sentenced today after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit fraud for false billings to Medicaid, Medicare and Tricare, according to the Naples Daily News. However, prosecutors failed to hand over some documents to the defense during the discovery phase.  Each could face a maximum of a $250,000 fine and 10 years in jail.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.