By Thomas Montana
A Shirley man who operated a transportation company out of his house was charged with grand larceny and health care fraud for his role in a Medicaid fraud scheme. He was one of three people charged or convicted as a result of the investigation.
James Bessell, the owner and manager of Jim Jim Rentals, allegedly provided false information to Medicaid to receive payments for transportation services that were never actually provided from August 2019 to August 2023. The taxi company would be reimbursed for transporting Medicaid patients to and from covered medical services and treatment facilities. As a result, Bessell was paid over $1 million.
Ten Medicaid recipients were said to have been transported by Jim Jim Rentals, but all claims were either false or invalid. The recipients either did not attend the treatment facility, were absent, were admitted as an inpatient at a hospital, incarcerated or deceased.
Bessell was charged with Grand Larceny, Health Care Fraud, Offering a False Instrument for Filing. It was also found that Bessell allegedly operated an illegal kickback scheme, paying Medicaid recipients for their purported use of his transportation services.
“When companies make up fake bills and exploit patients to overcharge Medicaid, they take resources away from a program that allows the most vulnerable New Yorkers to get health care,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “My office launched a sweeping investigation of the medical transportation industry to root out fraud, and we are getting results. From Buffalo to the Bronx, we’re holding scammers accountable and returning millions of dollars in stolen funds to Medicaid, a taxpayer funded program. I will continue to go after anyone who tries to profit by undermining our healthcare system.”