Thedailymiaminews:- A Southern California couple has agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations of defrauding federal healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medi-Cal. Dr. Mohammad Rasekhi and his wife, Sheila Busheri, were accused of submitting false healthcare claims and engaging in illegal kickback schemes through their medical businesses.
Dr. Rasekhi, the founder and chief medical officer of Southern California Medical Center, and his wife, Busheri, who served as the CEO of the medical group, allegedly used their positions to manipulate the system for financial gain. The couple also co-owned Universal Diagnostic Laboratories, a medical testing facility.
The accusations, outlined by the California Department of Justice, cover a span from 2014 to 2021, with the couple allegedly operating fraudulent billing practices across several Southern California locations, including clinics in Van Nuys, Pomona, Pico Rivera, Long Beach, El Monte, and Woodland Hills. The lab testing facility was based in Van Nuys.
Prosecutors claimed that Rasekhi and Busheri submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medi-Cal, in addition to paying illegal kickbacks to third-party marketers for referring patients to their clinics. They were also accused of providing kickbacks to outside clinics in exchange for patient referrals to their lab testing facility, violating the Anti-Kickback Statute. This led to receiving excessive reimbursements from Medi-Cal.
As part of the court settlement, the couple has agreed to pay $10 million, with $4 million going to the State of California and $6 million to the federal government. The settlement aims to address the harm caused by diverting crucial resources away from vulnerable populations who rely on these programs for their healthcare needs.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned the actions, emphasizing that such fraudulent schemes undermine the integrity of healthcare systems designed to serve the elderly, the ill, and those in need. “When healthcare professionals exploit the Medi-Cal program, they betray the very principles of the Hippocratic Oath,” Bonta said. “The alleged actions of Dr. Rasekhi not only broke the trust of his patients but also diverted essential resources away from vital healthcare services.”
In December 2024, Dr. Rasekhi surrendered his medical license after facing accusations from the Medical Board of California, which alleged that he sexually abused three women under his care. The couple has denied all allegations, with Rasekhi choosing to retire rather than challenge the accusations.
The settlement brings a conclusion to the legal proceedings, but the case serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding healthcare programs designed to protect the most vulnerable members of the community.