Terry Gardner, MD, and Dilorom Asimova, both of Colorado, have been indicted on healthcare fraud charges and taken into federal custody, according to a Department of Justice news release.
In Aug. 2003, Dr. Gardner, Ms. Asimova and one other associate formed TJD Medical Center and Rehab, based in Wheat Ridge, Colo. Since its establishment, the center focused on providing Medicaid and Medicare services. Dr. Gardner, who is both a licensed physician and pilot, never actually worked as a physician at this facility but instead focused his efforts in being a full-time pilot at St. Louis-based Trans States Airlines. During this time, Ms. Asimova posed a doctor at TJD, though she is not a licensed physician herself.
The indictment stated that Ms. Asimova and other unlicensed physicians met with, diagnosed and treated patients from 2003 to 2009. Services that she and her associates offered to patients without the direct supervision of a licensed physician were billed to Medicaid and Medicare. In addition, Ms. Asimova billed those companies for services she and her associates never provided and for services that Dr. Gardner "offered" to patients, although he was actually working full-time as a pilot in Missouri.
Ms. Asimova is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, 12 counts of healthcare fraud and one count of making a false statement. Ms. Gardner is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, 12 counts of healthcare fraud and one count of making false statements in relation to a healthcare matter.
Read the Department of Justice release on TJD Medical Center.
Read other Becker's coverage on recent healthcare fraud cases.
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California Cardiology Lab to Pay $3.6M to Settle Fraud Allegations
In Aug. 2003, Dr. Gardner, Ms. Asimova and one other associate formed TJD Medical Center and Rehab, based in Wheat Ridge, Colo. Since its establishment, the center focused on providing Medicaid and Medicare services. Dr. Gardner, who is both a licensed physician and pilot, never actually worked as a physician at this facility but instead focused his efforts in being a full-time pilot at St. Louis-based Trans States Airlines. During this time, Ms. Asimova posed a doctor at TJD, though she is not a licensed physician herself.
The indictment stated that Ms. Asimova and other unlicensed physicians met with, diagnosed and treated patients from 2003 to 2009. Services that she and her associates offered to patients without the direct supervision of a licensed physician were billed to Medicaid and Medicare. In addition, Ms. Asimova billed those companies for services she and her associates never provided and for services that Dr. Gardner "offered" to patients, although he was actually working full-time as a pilot in Missouri.
Ms. Asimova is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, 12 counts of healthcare fraud and one count of making a false statement. Ms. Gardner is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, 12 counts of healthcare fraud and one count of making false statements in relation to a healthcare matter.
Read the Department of Justice release on TJD Medical Center.
Read other Becker's coverage on recent healthcare fraud cases.
New York Dermatologist Agrees to $2.75M Settlement in False Claims Investigation
Physician-Owned Lithotripsy Provider Reaches $7.3M Anti-Kickback Settlement With OIG
California Cardiology Lab to Pay $3.6M to Settle Fraud Allegations