Providers Accused of Bilking Medicare of $27 Million

Dallas

In the latest power wheelchair scheme to come out of Texas, a federal grand jury has indicted three wheelchair supply company owners, charging them with defrauding Medicare of more than $27 million.

Charged in the 43-count indictment are Aniekeme B. Akpabot, owner of Mina Medical Equipment and Supplies in Mesquite, Texas; Okon Eyo Idiong, owner of OK Medical Equipment and Supplies and OK Medical Equipment and Supplies in Southfield, Mich.; and Aniefiok Jimmy Eking, owner of Medical Equipment and Supplies and Mescorp Pharmaceuticals in Houston. The three are the main players in a fraud scheme that spread across the South and Southwest, according to a Department of Justice press release.

Akpabot was originally indicted in February 2004 as part of “Operation Roll Over,” according to the release. The Dec. 20 indictment added additional charges as well as the other two defendants. Idiong was arrested in Detroit and is now in custody in Texas. As of press time, the other two are fugitives.

According to the indictment, the three defrauded Medicare from July 2002 to August 2003 by soliciting patients, finding doctors to obtain CMNs and billing Medicare for K0011s costing $8,000 to $10,000 each. The power wheelchairs either were never delivered or replaced with cheaper ones, allowing the suppliers to receive about $5,000 for each claim.