Fargo, N.D. (AP) Two women are accused in a Medicare fraud scheme involving referrals for people who needed power wheelchairs.
Armenui Bezoyan and Maryann Sison are charged in federal court in North Dakota with conspiracy to defraud the united states to pay and receive health care kickbacks, and payment and receipt of health care kickbacks.
They have pleaded not guilty.
Authorities say Bezoyan owned a Las Vegas company that sold medical equipment and Sison was part-owner and operator of a home health care agency.
Bezoyan allegedly paid Sison more nearly $76,000 for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries who needed wheelchairs.
The case is being tried in North Dakota because Fargo-based Noridian Healthcare Solutions LLC processes and pays medicare claims for equipment in Nevada.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case declined to comment.