A landmark case concluded with the conviction of Dr. Ron Elfenbein, age 49, of Arnold, Maryland, for a significant healthcare fraud scheme. A federal jury found him guilty on five counts of healthcare fraud, with the charges revolving around over $15 million in false and fraudulent claims related to COVID-19 testing sites.

Historic Verdict

This conviction is particularly significant, as Elfenbein is the first doctor to be convicted at trial by the Justice Department for healthcare fraud connected to billing for office visits related to patients seeking COVID-19 tests.

United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron, and several other key officials made the announcement after a three-week trial, culminating in this momentous verdict.

The Fraudulent Scheme

Elfenbein owned and operated Drs ERgent Care, LLC, doing business as First Call Medical Center and Chesapeake ERgent Care, which ran drive-through COVID-19 testing sites in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties.

The evidence at trial highlighted that Elfenbein systematically instructed his employees to bill not only for COVID-19 tests but also for high-level evaluation and management visits that were never actually provided to the patients. This instruction was clearly against the actual intention of the visits, as patients were mainly “there for one reason only – to be tested,” according to Elfenbein’s own words.

Exploiting the Pandemic
The case serves as a stark reminder that even during times of global crisis, there are those who will seek to exploit the situation for personal gain. In this instance, the fraudulent claims involved patients who were either asymptomatic, required testing for employment, or were looking to travel.

Pending Sentence
Elfenbein now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each of the five counts of healthcare fraud for which he was convicted. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled the sentencing for November 7, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.

For any further questions, inquiries, or clarification on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact Parrella Health Law. Our experienced team is available to provide personalized assistance and detailed information tailored to your unique needs. You can reach us at 857-328-0382, or visit our website at parrellahealthlaw.com. We look forward to assisting you and are committed to ensuring your complete satisfaction with our legal services.