May 16, 2016
A former owner of an ambulance company was charged on Monday with falsifying reports in a health care matter, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger announced.
Bassem Kuran, 23, of Philadelphia, is facing a substantial term of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a possible fine, mandatory restitution, forfeiture of assets and a special assessment.
Authorities allege Kuran, owner of the now-defunct VIP Ambulance, Inc., falsified reports to make it appear patients needed to be transported by ambulance to receive medical attention. When patients are able to walk and can travel safely by means other than ambulance, Medicare will not cover ambulance transportation. Kuran billed the rides as medically necessary and Medicare paid more than $66,000 for the service.
If convicted, Kuran could also be excluded from participating in federal health care programs.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul W. Kaufman and Mary E. Crawley.
