A Bethesda, Maryland man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for healthcare fraud. In addition to the prison term imposed, he was also ordered to pay $173,870.12 to the North Carolina Medicaid Fund as restitution. According to court documents, Christian Anthony Ekberg, 34, was an officer and minority shareholder of an out-of-state company that entered into an agreement with a North Carolina dentist. Under the agreement, the out-of-state company would provide professional management services to the dentist, including submitting Medicaid claims, and the dentist would provide dental services to patients living in skilled nursing facilities throughout North Carolina.
From September 2, 2015 through April 21, 2017, Ekberg, and others, knowingly submitted fraudulent dental claims to Medicaid. For example, although the dental records showed that only approximately 107 prophylaxes and 24 debridements had been performed for Medicaid recipients living at the skilled nursing facilities, claims were submitted falsely representing that 771 prophylaxes and 611 debridements were performed for these recipients. In total, the healthcare fraud resulted in Medicaid paying approximately $173,870.12 for services that had not been rendered. These funds were deposited into an account to which Ekberg had access. During the relevant time period, Ekberg signed all the checks from this account. The checks written to Ekberg, to cash, and to the out-of-state company, totaled approximately $177,034.
