Six Years for Medicare Fraud

LOS ANGELES (CN) - A North Hollywood health care recidivist was sentenced Monday to 76 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $9.6 million in restitution for Medicare fraud.

Susanna Artsruni, 46, who owned a durable medical clinic company and worked at several clinics, submitted nearly $25 million in fraudulent bills to Medicare, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement announcing her sentence.

She billed taxpayers for services that were not necessary and sometimes were not provided.

Durable medical equipment generally refers to wheelchairs.

Artsruni, who also used the first names Mary and Rose, pleaded guilty to health care fraud and money laundering.

Her company was called Midvalley Medical Supply, in Van Nuys. She submitted more than $24.8 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, and it paid her $9.6 million, prosecutors said.

While she worked wrote a check to launder the fraudulently obtained money, she was free on bond in another health care fraud case, the U.S. attorney said.

Four others have been charged in her latest scheme. One pleaded guilty and three await trial.

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