A distinguished Maryland physician overseeing coronavirus testing at Baltimore-Washington Worldwide Marshall Airport and different websites in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties was indicted on April 19, accused by federal prosecutors of overcharging Medicare and different insurers by greater than $1.5 million.
Maryland
Doctor overseeing covid-19 testing at BWI accused of health-care fraud
![Doctor overseeing covid-19 testing at BWI accused of health-care fraud Doctor overseeing covid-19 testing at BWI accused of health-care fraud](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/IGRJZ5WCLII6ZNO7D65GDJTMOU.jpg&w=1440)
Now federal prosecutors say that underneath Elfenbein’s course, clinics billed Medicare and different insurers for coronavirus checks together with “extra profitable, however medically pointless” companies, in keeping with a grand jury indictment. These companies “had been purportedly of a 30-minute or longer length, or involving average or excessive ranges of medical decision-making, however didn’t actually happen as represented,” the indictment stated.
The indictment alleges Elfenbein knew many sufferers had been being seen for lower than 5 minutes however directed staffers to invoice for the higher-level companies anyway, saying they had been “the ‘bread and butter’ of how we receives a commission.”
A lawyer for Elfenbein, Mike Lawlor, disputed these accusations. “Within the early days of the pandemic, Dr. Ron Elfenbein rallied his physician’s workplace in a time of worldwide worry, to be a number one supplier of coronavirus testing and therapy locally” Lawlor stated in an electronic mail. “ … A trial on this case will show not solely that Dr. Elfenbein is harmless of the costs rapidly introduced by the federal government, however that in a time of unprecedented want, Dr. Elfenbein and his workers saved the lives of quite a few Marylanders.”
The indictment, which expenses Elfenbein with three counts of health-care fraud, identifies him as an proprietor and medical director of Drs ERgent Care, an organization that additionally does enterprise underneath the names First Name Medical Middle and Chesapeake ERgent Care.
Drs ERgent Care was began in 2015 and listed as its “principal workplace” the house tackle of Maryland Del. Sid A. Saab (R-Anne-Arundel), who was listed as registered agent, company information present. The following 12 months, the tackle modified and Elfenbein grew to become registered agent.
Saab, who attended the ribbon chopping at BWI, in January listed himself in a compulsory monetary disclosure as half proprietor of Gambrills Medical Administration, which, in keeping with the disclosure, manages First Name Medical Middle Gambrills. The latter firm operates the BWI clinic, in keeping with information maintained by the Maryland Board of Public Works. The clinic, inside the principle terminal close to Concourse C, presents emergency care, coronavirus testing and vaccinations, in addition to different companies.
A LinkedIn web page for Saab, a state delegate since 2015, lists him as co-owner of a health middle, president of an actual property firm, and chief government of a agency concerned in “valuable steel recycling” tied to the identical Gambrills tackle as First Name Medical Middle. Dan Hazelwood, a spokesman for Saab’s political marketing campaign, stated Saab had no remark.
A job itemizing in the course of the previous 12 months related to First Name Medical Middle for somebody to oversee a middle providing monoclonal antibody infusions, a covid-19 therapy, stated the place would report back to Saab and Elfenbein.
A member of the Home Well being and Authorities Operations Committee, Saab lately filed to run for state senate. He stated within the monetary disclosure: “First Name Medical Middle had a contract with the Division of Well being associated to coronavirus testing and therapy.”
He holds between 25 and 49 p.c of Gambrills Medical Administration, in keeping with his disclosure. “Neither Gambrills Medical Administration nor First Name acquired any funds from the State. I didn’t take part in any negotiations with the State,” the disclosure stated.
Connor Ferguson, whose LinkedIn web page lists him as managing accomplice of First Name Medical Middle, cautioned a reporter when reached by cellphone Friday: “Simply be very cautious — as a result of it’s an impartial firm, with Dr. Elfenbein — in implicating First Name, in order that’s all I’ll say. As a result of he operates knowledgeable company underneath Drs ERgent Care.”
Requested if he may make clear what he meant, he replied, “Nope. Bye.”
Nobody at Drs ERgent Care or the associated firms, aside from Elfenbein, has been charged or accused of any crime.
Elfenbein graduated from SUNY Upstate Medical College’s Faculty of Drugs in New York in 2000. He ran unsuccessfully for Basic Meeting in 2006 and 2010, and sought to fill a vacated seat in 2015.
Earlier than the pandemic, First Name Medical Middle had about 20 staff at one location, in keeping with an article Elfenbein was interviewed for in Upstate Medical College’s alumni journal. As of October, the corporate had about 200 staff at two pressing care facilities, three coronavirus testing facilities, two monoclonal antibody infusion facilities and a coming cell testing unit, the article stated.
“Covid-19 has impacted everyone,” Elfenbein instructed the journal. “We had been capable of be forward-thinking to supply wanted public well being companies. Within the course of, that allowed us to develop as a enterprise and supply about 180 new jobs, which is a good factor.”
After opening the primary monoclonal antibody infusion website, the article stated, the corporate was approached by federal and Maryland well being officers to run a second monoclonal website and rapid-testing middle exterior FedEx Discipline subsequent to a state-run PCR testing facility. “As of October, we had been receiving 15 p.c of the state allocation of monoclonal antibodies,” Elfenbein instructed the journal.
In saying Elfenbein’s indictment, the Maryland U.S. legal professional’s workplace stated he was amongst 18 individuals throughout the USA indicted in alleged fraud schemes that resulted in over $149 million in covid-related false billings to federal applications and theft from help applications.
“It’s unconscionable that this defendant sought to line his personal pockets throughout a world pandemic by grossly overbilling Medicare and different insurers for these important well being care companies throughout a time of nationwide disaster,” FBI Particular Agent in Cost Thomas J. Sobocinski stated in a information launch. “If the allegations towards Dr. Elfenbein, and the 17 others that had been charged at the moment are confirmed, they need to be ashamed of their conduct and can be held accountable for his or her felony actions.”
If convicted, Elfenbein would face a most of 10 years in federal jail for every of the three counts. The indictment says he was “aided and abetted by … others identified and unknown to the Grand Jury,” but it surely didn’t title any of them.
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Maryland
Maryland Weather: Severe Storms Moving in From West
![Maryland Weather: Severe Storms Moving in From West Maryland Weather: Severe Storms Moving in From West](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/31/422a855f-71c5-4f72-89e9-eaf7e2840b03/thumbnail/1200x630/74b3d1b1856d7b1a33196394c2d71589/capture.png?v=25685eaa472b1a5dbb5bd46ae506d232)
BALTIMORE – Severe storms have been plaguing western Maryland this afternoon. They are on the move east and will push into Carroll County near the 6pm hour. These storms have a history of producing winds capable of downing trees. We are also seeing heavy rain and lightning.
Most of the activity will push north and south of the forecast area surrounding Baltimore with the marine layer or stable air mass keeping the severe weather west of the mountain regions.
The warm front associated with the severe weather is bring warm, humid air in overnight. Expect overnight lows in the low 70s with scattered showers and isolated severe storms.
A secondary cold front will bring another chance for an isolated strong storms on Sunday. The day won’t be a washout, there is the possibility of active weather in the afternoon and evening.
The front will bring bright sunny skies for Monday with low humidity. Perfect weather for the afternoon barbecue or last summer activity. Kids getting back to school this week should expect refreshing temperatures… possibly even a little chilly with overnight lows in the 50s.
High pressure will control our weather for the middle of the week. Expect sunny skies and low humidity through Friday. Overnight lows Tuesday and Wednesday will be in the mid 50s, with afternoon highs in the upper 70s. The chance of showers returns late Friday.
Maryland
How to watch Maryland football vs. UConn
![How to watch Maryland football vs. UConn How to watch Maryland football vs. UConn](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z8YP2-NIqaP3cu5cgluRlDhjBJY=/0x251:3503x2085/fit-in/1200x630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25597082/usa_today_22254966.jpg)
Maryland football is back and kicks off its season at home against UConn on Saturday.
The Terps will take on the Huskies for first time since 2013, when Maryland won, 32-21. The Terps are coming off an 8-5 season, in which they won their third straight bowl game, while UConn is coming off a disappointing 3-9 season and looking to play spoiler on the road.
With a victory, Maryland will move its week one winning streak to five games.
The numbers
Maryland: 0-0
UConn: 0-0
All-time series: Maryland leads, 2-1
DraftKings Sportsbook line: Maryland -19.5, O/U 44.5
How to watch and listen
When: Saturday, Aug. 31, 12 p.m. ET
Where: SECU Stadium, College Park, Maryland
TV: Fox Sports 1 — Connor Onion (play-by-play), Mark Helfrich (analyst)
Radio: 105.7 FM (Balt) / 980 AM (DC) – Johnny Holliday (play-by-play), Steve Suter (analyst), LaMont Jordan (sideline)
Streaming: Fox Sports
Catch up before the game
Previewing Maryland football’s season opener against UConn
Predictions for Maryland football’s 2024 season: Top players, bold takes and more
Breaking down every game on Maryland football’s schedule
Maryland
Maryland Supreme Court reinstates Adnan Syed murder conviction, orders new hearing
BALTIMORE— Maryland’s Supreme Court has upheld an appellate court’s decision to reinstate the murder conviction of Adnan Syed, whose case gained national attention in 2014 when it was featured on the first season of the “Serial” podcast.
The ruling says the case should be sent back to a lower court for a new hearing on whether it should be thrown out entirely. The decision reverses a lower court’s ruling that had cleared Syed’s name two years ago.
Syed had served more than 20 years for the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee.
He was freed from prison in September 2022 after Baltimore prosecutors found flaws in the evidence presented at trial and a judge agreed to vacate his conviction.
However, Lee’s relatives appealed the decision, contending they didn’t receive sufficient notice to attend the hearing that set Syed free. In March 2023, the Maryland Appellate Court agreed and reinstated Syed’s conviction and ordered a redo of the hearing.
Syed appealed that ruling, bringing the matter to the Maryland Supreme Court. Friday’s ruling comes 11 months after arguments were made.
Justices found the circuit court violated the rights of Young Lee, Hae Min Lee’s brother.
“In an effort to remedy what they perceived to be an injustice to Mr. Syed, the prosecutor and the Circuit Court worked an injustice against Mr. Lee,” the court said.
Syed will remain free until the next hearing which has not been scheduled. The Supreme Court ordered the Lee family must have sufficient notice of the new hearing and a new judge must preside.
“If there’s actually evidence presented that shows that Adnan Syed should not have been convicted, we would be the first ones to congratulate Adnan Syed and argue he should be a free man,” said David Sanford, the attorney for the Lee family. “That hasn’t happened yet.”
In their dissenting opinions, several justices wrote when the case was vacated, any appeal by Young Lee should’ve been rendered moot. Those justices also argued there aren’t any specific victims’ rights that would require Young Lee be allowed to be present at that 2022 hearing.
Syed’s lawyer Erica Suter said that while they disagree with the ruling, the Lee family’s pain in this isn’t lost on them.
“Wrongful convictions devastate the wrongly accused, their family and the family of the victim,” Suter said. “Reinstating Adnan’s wrongful conviction does not provide justice or closure.”
Rabia Chaudry, Syed’s friend and advocate, went on Instagram Live to affirm that she will do what she can to keep Syed a free man.
“I will never not fight for his freedom and I know there are others, also, in his life who will never not fight for his freedom,” Chaudry said.
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