LOS ANGELES (CNS) – A physician from Porter Ranch pleaded guilty today to a federal charge arising from her false home health certifications and related fraudulent Medicare billings.
Lilit Gagikovna Baltaian, 61, entered her plea in downtown Los Angeles to one count of healthcare fraud, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Prosecutors said Baltaian operated two medical clinics in Tujunga and Reseda. From about January 2012 to July 2018, she falsely certified patients to receive home health care from at least four area home health agencies, court papers show.
Baltaian’s false certifications were used by the home health agencies to fraudulently bill Medicare for unnecessary home health care. Baltaian received a cash benefit related to these referrals and also submitted claims to Medicare for signing the fraudulent certifications and for patient visits and injections that were not needed and/or provided, the DOJ said.
Between January 2012 and July 2018, Baltaian’s false certifications were used to submit fraudulent claims, resulting in a loss to Medicare of at least $1.44 million, according to the DOJ.
She will face up to 10 years in federal prison at sentencing on April 3, prosecutors noted.