LOUISIANA
A New Orleans woman was sentenced Thursday to four years and three months in prison for her involvement in a $2 million home health kickback scheme carried out through a New Orleans area home health agency, officials said.
Kim Ricard, 51, of Gonzales, Louisiana was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo who also ordered Ricard to pay $1.958 million in restitution, according to officials.
On Sept. 12, 2017, the defendant was convicted of one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, three counts of receiving kickbacks, three counts of identity theft and one count of making false statements to federal agents, according to officials.
According to evidence presented at trial, from 2008 to 2013, Kim Ricard and others engaged in a scheme to refer mentally ill Medicare patients to home health agencies in and around New Orleans in exchange for kickbacks.
The evidence further established that Ricard unlawfully used the Medicare identification information of three Medicare beneficiaries in connection with the scheme.
Ricard then made false statements to federal investigators about her conduct, the evidence showed. As a result of the scheme, Ricard’s co-conspirator caused Medicare to pay over $1.9 million based on those illegally-obtained referrals.
Co-defendant Milton Diaz, 65, of Harvey, Louisiana, plead guilty on July 13, 2017 and is awaiting sentencing.