Women plead guilty to healthcare fraud
A Brownsville woman and her daughter-in-law appeared in federal court on Monday, where they pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.
Felicitas Velez Alanis, 50, and Erika Ortega Alanis, 26, had been accused of filing false and fraudulent claims with the Texas Medicaid program, authorities report.
At their court appearance, the women admitted they sent false and fraudulent bills to the Texas Medicaid program, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported in a news release.
The fraudulent billing occurred between Jan. 1, 2005, and Oct. 12, 2006, where the two submitted more than $646,000 in false and fraudulent bills.
Authorities report Felicitas Alanis owns and operates Vel-Ala Inc., a corporation that does business as Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply in the Brownsville and Harlingen areas. Erika Alanis reportedly was in charge of the day-to-day operation of the company.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the delivery and billing records of Nisi Medical Equipment Supply show the Texas Medicaid program was routinely billed for more items than were actually purchased or delivered.
Medicaid reportedly paid more than $554,000 on what were believed to be false and fraudulent claims submitted by the medical supplier.
Nisi Medical Equipment and Supply is enrolled with Texas Medicaid to provide medical equipment to Medicaid beneficiaries. It provides equipment used in homes such as blood-testing strips, blood glucose monitors, diabetic supplies and other medical items.
The women remain free on bond pending their sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for April 16. They each face a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000, in addition to three years post-prison supervised release.
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Laura B. Martinez writes for The Brownsville Herald.
