Chicago Couple Indicted in $45 Million Home Health Fraud Scheme

A couple who co-owned three Lincolnwood, Illinois, home health agencies were indicted last week in a Chicago federal court for their participation in a Medicare fraud scheme that allegedly bilked taxpayers out of as much as $45 million.

Richard Tinimbang and his wife, Maribel Tinimbang, allegedly carried the scheme out through the three home health agencies, which were owned by Richard’s mother. Under the scheme, the companies paid bribes and kickbacks in order to obtain Medicare beneficiaries and falsified medical records to make patients appear sicker than they actually were.

The couple reportedly spent millions of dollars on personal expenses and lived a lavish lifestyle in the Chicago suburbs where they also illegally employed a housekeeper against her will.

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Richard Tinimbang was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud Medicare, one count of conspiracy to pay or receive health care kickbacks, two counts of paying kickbacks to induce referrals of Medicare beneficiaries, one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to obtain forced labor, and one count of presenting false statements in an immigration document.

The charges against Maribel Tinimbang include one count of conspiracy to defraud Medicare, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to obtain forced labor. A larger case is under way that involves charges against 13 others, according to the Department of Justice.

The investigation found three related home health care agencies were involved: Donnarich Home Health Care Inc., Josdan Home Health Care Inc., and Pathways Home Health Services LLC. The Tinimbang business was a physical therapy company, Patients First Physical Therapy Inc., which purported to provide in-home therapy services to the three companies’ patients.

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Written by Elizabeth Ecker

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