Arizona hospital purchase by AHCCCS fraud suspect costs $5 million

[ad_1]
Rita Anagho, a San Tan Valley woman, has been indicted for fraudulently billing nearly $70 million to Arizona’s Medicaid program. She is accused of using a portion of the funds to purchase a health care center in Pinal County. Anagho faces charges of health care fraud and money laundering for allegedly obtaining $55 million in payments from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System through an outpatient treatment center she operated. The indictment also accuses Anagho of paying illegal kickbacks to residences for referrals. Anagho’s outpatient center allegedly billed for nonexistent or substandard services, and employees were instructed to create false therapy notes. Anagho is among the providers who have been suspended by Arizona for fraudulently billing AHCCCS. She used funds to purchase real estate and vehicles, including a hospital in Florence. The hospital, bought in 2023 by the Tusa Miyaka Global Foundation, of which Anagho is listed as president, abruptly closed in 2012 but reopened in 2018. Anagho is also facing state charges in Maricopa County Superior Court. If convicted, federal officials intend to seek the forfeiture of the Florence hospital from Anagho. The nonprofit organization did not respond to calls from 12News.

Source
Photo credit www.12news.com