Suburban Chicago Health Care Company

Ordered to Pay Back $25 Million in Medicare Fraud

On March 28, 2023, a former owner of a home health company in suburban Chicago has been ordered by a federal judge to pay more than $25 million in damages and penalties as the result of more than 4,000 violations of the False Claims Act. The owner of the company was previously convicted of theft from the Medicare program.

In 2017 the United States government intervened in a sealed whistleblower lawsuit that had been brought against Ajibola Ayeni, 63, of Flossmoor, owner of Docs at the Door P.C. a home health company in Matteson, Illinois and other defendants in 2013.

The United States filed its own complaint-in-intervention against Ayeni, his wife and company alleging that they had violated the federal False Claims Act by knowingly submitting claims for Medicare payments for services not rendered, services that were not medically necessary, and services that were “upcoded” to a higher level reimbursement than was appropriate or provided.

Also in 2017, Ayeni was charged in a related criminal case alleging care plan oversight fraud. That case resolved in a guilty plea on August 22, 2019, when Ayeni pleaded guilty to one count of theft or embezzlement in connection with a health care benefit program. In his plea, Ayeni specifically admitted that the Medicare program paid Docs at the Door approximately $523,600 from 2011 through June 2015 as the result of 4,367 false claims.

On March 28, 2023, the court entered judgment against Ayeni and Docs at the Door in the amount of $25,589,300, made up of $1,570,800 in treble damages and $24,018,500 in civil penalties.

You can read the full press release from the Department of Justice here.

The Illinois SMP is also here to offer assistance if you feel you have been affected by any potential Medicare fraud, please call the Illinois SMP at AgeOptions at (800)699-9043 or visit www.illinoissmp.org.

April, May, and June 2023 Workshops

April 18, 2023, at 10:00 am – Senior Expo

Buffalo Grove Park District (225 McHenry Rd. Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089)

April 19, 2023, at 11:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO

Forest Park Public Library (7555 Jackson Blvd. Forest Park, IL 60130)

April 25, 2023, at 1:00 om – Spanish SMP with Benefit Access Presentation

Blue Island Public Library (2433 York St. Blue Island, IL 60406)

April 28, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO

The Barn (231 Civic Dr. Schaumburg, IL 60193)

May 1, 2023, at 5:30 pm – SMP presentation with BINGO

Gail Borden Public Library (270 N Grove Ave. Elgin, IL 60120)

May 4, 2023, at 10:30 am – SMP BINGO

Levy Senior Citizens Center (300 Dodge Ave. Evanston, IL 60202)

May 5, 2023, at 1:00 pm - SMP Types of Fraud and SMP Bingo

Schiller Park Public Library (4200 Old River Rd. Schiller Park, IL 60176)

May 10, 2023, at 11:00 am - SMP Presentation & Bingo

The Quinn Center (815 Lexington St. Maywood, IL 60153)

May 10, 2023, at 12:00 pm – SMP presentation with BINGO #2

Salerno's Pizzeria & Sports Bar - Hodgkins (9301 W 63rd St. Hodgkins, IL 60525)

May 11, 2023, at 10:00 am – North Riverside Senior Fair

North Riverside Parks & Recreation (2401 Des Plaines Ave. North Riverside, IL 60546)

May 12, 2023, at 10:00 am – Spanish SMP Bingo

Waukegan Township Senior Center (411 S Lewis Ave. Waukegan, Illinois 60085)

May 16, 2023, at 7:00 pm – Bilingual SMP Bingo

Bensenville Community Public Library (200 S Church Rd. Bensenville, IL 60106)

May 17, 2023, at 12:00 pm – Spanish SMP Bingo

Gail Borden Public Library (270 N Grove Ave. Elgin, IL 60120)

May 17, 2023, at 10:00 am - SMP Bingo

Oak Park Senior Services (130 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302)

May 18, 2023, at 3:00 pm – Spanish SMP Bingo #2

Gail Borden Public Library (270 N Grove Ave. Elgin, IL 60120)

May 20, 2023, at 1:00 pm - Leyden Township Community Health Fair

Bradley A. Stephens Community Center (2620 N. Mannheim Rd. Franklin Park, IL 60131)

May 23, 2023, at 1:00 pm – SMP Bingo

Calumet City Public Library (660 Manistee Ave. Calumet City, IL 60409)

May 23, 2023, at 10:00 am – South Chicago Heights Senior Fair

South Chicago Heights Senior Citizen (3140 Enterprise Park Ave. South Chicago Heights, IL 60411)

May 26, 2023, at 1:00 pm - SMP Presentation & Bingo

Hanover Township (240 S. Route 59 Bartlett, IL 60103)

May 25, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO #2

The Barn (231 Civic Dr. Schaumburg, IL 60193)

May 30, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP BINGO

Levy Senior Citizens Center (300 Dodge Ave. Evanston, IL 60202)

May 31, 2023, at 11:00 am – Spanish SMP BINGO

Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Church (1101 N 23rd Ave. Melrose Park, IL 60160)

June 8, 2023, at 12:30 pm - Senior Market

Pav YMCA (2947 S. Oak Park Ave. Berwyn, IL 60402)

June 9, 2023, at 10:00 am – Spanish SMP Bingo

Park Place (414 S Lewis Ave. Waukegan, IL 60085)

June 10, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP Bingo

Wheeling Township (1616 N Arlington Heights Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60004)

June 14, 2023, at 11:00 am – SMP Bingo

Pav YMCA (2947 S. Oak Park Ave. Berwyn, IL 60402)

June 15, 2023, at 11:00 am – SMP Bingo

Arlington Heights Senior Center (1801 W Central Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60005)

June 20, 2023, at 12:00 pm – SMP Bingo

Wheeling Senior Meal Site (1 Community Blvd. Wheeling, IL 60090)

June 21, 2023, at 12:00 pm – Spanish SMP Bingo

Gail Borden Public Library (270 N Grove Ave. Elgin, IL 60120)

June 28, 2023, at 11:00 am – Spanish SMP Bingo

Melrose Park Senior Meal Site (1101 N 23rd Ave. Melrose Park, IL 60160)

June 30, 2023, at 10:00 am – SMP BINGO

Levy Senior Citizens Center (300 Dodge Ave. Evanston, IL 60202)

Have a wonderful week!

Travis Trumitch

travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area. If you would like to sign up to receive the Fraud Alert directly, visit click here.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0036, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

The Illinois SMP at AgeOptions partners with agencies across the state to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education.

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area and visit our website to sign up for our Fraud Alert email list.

Share this Fraud Alert with your social networks:

Share This Email