Read the news report “Maryland Health Care Provider Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud Resulting in Patient Deaths.”

Use the Five Whys to conduct a root cause analysis to determine why the Medicare fraud occurred and Timothy Emeigh’s participation in the case.

Write a 525- to 700-word paper that identifies and evaluates the root cause for Medicare fraud in this case.

Include the following:

• List each of the Five Whys and your response.
• Speculate as to why Mr. Emeigh participated in the scheme.
• Explain what you might have done to prevent this from happening.

Cite 3 reputable references to support your assignment (e.g., trade or industry publications, government or agency websites, scholarly works, or other sources of similar quality).

Format your assignment according to APA guidelines.

Maryland Health Care Provider Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud Resulting in Patient Deaths

Patients Died Because No Radiologist Reviewed X-Rays; Defendant Cheated Medicare and Medicaid of More Than $6 Million

Baltimore, Maryland – U. S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced the owner of Alpha Diagnostics, Rafael Chikvashvili, age 69, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 10 years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for charges related to a health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy resulting in the deaths of patients, as well as false statements and aggravated identity theft, related to a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of more than $6 million. Judge Bredar also ordered that Chikvashvili pay restitution and forfeit proceeds of the fraud, with the exact amount to be determined at a later date. Chikvashvili has been detained since his conviction by a federal jury on February 17, 2016.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Nicholas DiGiulio, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services; and Special Agent in Charge Kevin Perkins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

“The evidence showed that Rafael Chikvashvili failed to provide medical services to patients who needed them, and billed for services that he did not provide,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. “The jury found that two patients died because their X-rays were not reviewed by a qualified radiologist. Health care fraud has consequences, in money wasted and lives lost.”

According to the evidence presented at the two-and-a-half week trial, Chikvashvili formed Alpha Diagnostics Services, Inc., which later became Alpha Diagnostics, LLC, in 1993, and was the Managing Member, Authorized Official, Managing Employee, President and Chief Executive Officer for Alpha Diagnostics. Chikvashvili holds a PhD in mathematics, but was never a medical doctor or licensed physician. Timothy Emeigh was the Vice President in charge of Operations at Alpha Diagnostics and was a licensed radiologic technologist.

Alpha Diagnostics was a portable diagnostic services provider, principally of X-rays, but also provided ultrasound tests, and cardiologic examinations.  Alpha Diagnostics’ clients included nursing homes whose patients were covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Alpha Diagnostics operated in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia, but was headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland, where Chikvashvili worked full time.