By EMS1 Staff
LONGVIEW, Texas — On. Sept. 11, a Longview man pled guilty to healthcare fraud in a case that involved multiple Medicare fraud schemes and networks of “pill mill” clinics.
Joseph Kimble, 62, operator of Tiger EMS, billed Medicare and Medicaid for ambulance services that were not deemed necessary, East Texas Matters reported. Under his plea agreement, Kimble will serve 30 months in federal prison and pay $751,986.80 in restitution.
Tiger EMS provided non-emergency ambulance services to nursing centers, hospitals and dialysis centers. Kimble’s case is one of multiple Medicare fraud cases authorities have been looking into, including a network of ‘pill mill’ clinics that has resulted in charges being filed against 58 other medical professionals.
“Every dollar stolen from Medicare through fraud comes out of the pocket of taxpayers,” U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown of the Eastern District of Texas said. “These are real costs that help drive up the cost of medical services for everyone. It is important that there be real consequences for those who cheat the system.”