LOS ANGELES – A Palmdale physician pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges of receiving illegal kickbacks in exchange for home health care referrals.
Dr. Kain Kumar, 54, is facing 19 federal counts, including conspiracy, receiving illegal health care kickbacks and illegal distribution of prescription drugs, according to an updated indictment filed in February in Los Angeles.
Prosecutors allege that Kumar — who owned and operated medical clinics in Palmdale and elsewhere — referred Medicare beneficiaries to Star Home Health in La Verne for in-home health services between August 2012 and May 2016. Star allegedly billed the services to Medicare.
In exchange for the Medicare referrals, Star’s owners paid Kumar kickbacks of anywhere between $200 to $900 for each beneficiary, prosecutors allege.
According to the indictment, Star billed Medicare almost $9 million for home health services.
Trial is scheduled for Aug. 22 before U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez.
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RAY BAEZ says
I bekieve my brother is part of that disturbing party he just passed aug 7 2017 at moutain shadow apartments his doctor was derrick l smith still has not responded to my call back …i love you bro rip david baez
Annie says
He was my doctor from 2009 till 2015. Even after 3 stints in detox and rehab, the next business day I was prescribed the same meds that put me in detox and MORE.
I weighed 85 lbs, and needed a PIC line 3 times in 2 years for nutrition and ended up with a fungal infection and lost partial eyesight from it, due to the cleaning of my PIC from HIS home health, Angel City HHC. Last saw him march 2015 and am now healthy, finally!
RAY BAEZ says
he shows extreme departure,,very disarray unkempt
Dave says
Blaming Obama care for for the fraudulence of the doctors is total nonsense. Obamacare was always meant to be a compromise and was.
the GOP agreed to work together to improve Obama care but instead did everything they could to repeal it for seven years.
Tim Scott says
But Dave! There was no fraud prior to 2008! Just ask a Trumpanzee. They will tell you it hadn’t been invented yet. They’ll even give you a link to a Breitbart article that proves it.
Shane Falco says
There you go again, Tim. Another strawman argument that’s not true in the least. Obama care was supposed to cut the fraud and abuse.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/19/greed-report-obamacare-was-supposed-to-fight-health-care-fraud-hows-that-working-out.html
Here is an article from your left-leaning CNBC stating that very fact. It was supposed to cut waste and abuse and it’s even more rampant than ever.
Then again, if you liked your health plan, you got to keep it. Remember that? The entire premise of the affordable care act was based on fraud.
Tim Scott says
Go back to figuring out how to get the next generation onto the taxpayer’s payroll Donnie boy. The nepotism has to continue since your family is devoid of life skills. Bad genes.
Shane Falco says
Well, Tim, my side business pays more than firefighting along with having 16 employees.
My oldest is with LA City already and he too has his own side construction business and he’s currently almost finished building his own house.
So much for being devoid of lif skills….
Tim Scott says
I know Donnie…you’ve already gotten your kids into the ‘family business’ of sucking up taxpayer money. I meant the NEXT generation after them.
Shane Falco says
Who is Donnie? If you’re guessing as to who I am you’re wrong again. You were wrong about Ledford, you’re wrong about me being retired, and you’re wrong about this.
You need to take a break and go ice up son.
Tim Scott says
I didn’t have to guess…remember that e-mail address I post all the time? Someone who knows you sent me a pretty thorough rundown on a whole family and how well it fit all the things you’ve said…they made a pretty airtight case, unless there is another Three Points/Paraclete/Fireman/Santa Clarita path follower running right alongside you.
Sleepy says
What is the point of your pissing match you guys? I know of a few horrid Doctors providing opioid pills to people whom sell them on the street. Our world is in a state of horror with physicians being at the top of the drug dealer list. This will anger so many people…. but until your a parent crying everyday from the pain of your child’s opioid addiction from a physician… my point is things need to change. Ledford… a nice man I met at a few country club meetings I was to start a new from 2 weeks ago they delayed my career because he got arrested. Whether he did right or wrong …
I’M lost at see without that perfect job sadly. You two seem to hate everything about each other. Seems sad. All I can say is thank you to all the emts…..firefighters….and others in public service because you’ve saved my child more than once from seizures. God bless and please let’s work together to get people locked up that are breaking the law. I personally get judged because I can’t stop all the bad on the streets. I just don’t want to cry anymore. Too many gangs drugs and corruption let’s fix it!
Tim Scott says
LOL…sure, sure. There was no fraud prior to 2008. No one ever prescribed anything that wasn’t necessary just because they could prior to 2008.
Oh.
Wait.
No, that is so obviously, stupidly wrong that I can hardly believe you people are making such a claim seriously. You are just kidding, right?
Rosanna says
It’s a smash & grab. Inherent irreversibility, no way back from this Obamacare thing, healthcare providers realize, sooner or later, the whole thing will inevitably be socialized. Never again will rank and file healthcare providers make the kind of money they’re making, now. Making hay while the sun shines, the hospital corporations went berserk, systematically over-billing Obamacare, leaving no alternative for insurance corporations, but to skyrocket ERISA and Obamacare premiums into the stratosphere. Only a matter of time before the whole thing collapses, only America’s wealthy 0.5% will be able to afford coverage –
Jacquelyne says
… rampant institutional fraud on an unprecedented scale, it’s an Obamacare feeding frenzy, healthcare providers run amok, ordering up frivolous procedures, over-billing our healthcare system, asunder. In 2016, almost every newborn at Henry Mayo frivolously prescribed Bili-lights by grossly overpaid attending physicians, medical equipment rental firms in Santa Clarita were living the high life. That is, until the insurance companies started asking for medical charts, on all newborns prescribed a Bili-light by Henry Mayo physicians. Overnight, just like that, suddenly no more more jaundiced newborns in Santa Clarita? Demand for Bili-light rentals in Santa Clarita fell off the edge of the earth –
MONIQUE TAVARES -PAGE says
I want to start a law suit against dr. Kumar and Company
Annie says
I’m in 100% agreement on this!
Have you spoken to an attorney yet?
RAY BAEZ says
im with that plan aswell
Sari says
I have been Dr Kumar for 19 years now he treated my whole family, he has been right on and I am deeply sorry for him if these are true But he is and has been spot on with us!
Rick says
I’m sure all of these charges are true. Can’t believe he’s still allowed to practice. At least he was thrown out at AV hospital. While they’re at it, they should investigate everyone at the hospital with a car from “exotic euro cars.” This dealer is also owned by him and there is massive tax fraud going on.
Gregory says
When asked why Palmdale Regional over-billed my Blue Shield US$60 thousand, for just 8 visits in four weeks to physical therapy for a tennis elbow and a sore shoulder, their answer was, that the Medical profession already knows Obamacare will soon inevitably fail, providers treat it as an opened wallet, capitalizing by helping themselves, making a grab for as much as they possibly can, while they still can –
Mickey oden says
Dr. Kumar is a great doctor he saved my mother and our whole family still go to see him, I will stand behind him 110%.
Michael G. Augustus says
Common name. How come no pic?
Bob says
Even the sharpest most compassionate people can be crooks.
Winnie says
I wish it was a way I can sue him, if it’s the same kumar that gave prescriptions to my family like candy we called him several times to stop I even called the DA office left a message several times letting them know about him and there would be problems in av soon with script meds! My mother died under his care he did nothing about her dehydration in the rehab health facility if it’s not him hell his brother father one of them Kamars is responsible for my family crisis period! I hope he gets what he deserve and don’t stop with him his family as well!!!
Sonya says
Your statement sounds very racist and judgmental !
Kimberly K says
Sonya,
I certainly fail to see anything racist in Winnie’s comment?! Nothing judgemental either. All Winnie commented on is the negligence of *a* Dr. whose last name is Kumar, and whether or not *this* Dr. Kaine Kumar is the guilty one.☤
Your statement sounds very accusatory and condemning!
Benjamin says
Majority of fraud is due to hospital and insurance companies. Dr. Ordering stuff at the hospital only profits the hospital and not the doctor. HCA hospital paid over 2 billion for over charging. Tenet over 600 million. UnitedHealth recently being investigated for 5 billion charging Medicare. So no doctors fraud is miniscule.
Also doctors are forced to see uninsured patients because our government is fraud.
Angela says
This Doctor saved my life. I had both knees replaced and was very sick afterwards. I caught colitis and went to Palmdale hospital where the emergency doctor treated me like I was a drug addict. The emergency room doctor told me I was going through withdrawals from all the medications. Dr. Kumar call to the emergency room and told them to do a Ct scan and found out my intestines were inflamed. Dr. Kumar doesn’t just look at you and write a script. He actually talks to you and helps you get well.
veronica says
Then why is it that he told me I was pregnant when my tubes were tied, cut, and burned? He told my husband he had gout. We went to another doctor and we had nothing wrong with us. I felt very uneasy with Kumar when he did a breast exam without a anyone else in the room. I thought the nurse had to be in the room when he did things like that. My husbands dad died from congestive heart failure and he kept giving him pills for all kinds of things. The hospice took all his meds when he died saying that he was taking pills he didn’t even need. Kumar wrote prescriptions for anything.
Sharlote Moe says
As a retired nurse, no longer afraid of Dr Kain Kumar, AND, as a family member of 2 loved ones who died under his care, i can honestly say that (in my opinion) this man ( doesn’t even deserve the title of Dr), is a complete disgrace to the medical profession! I can PERSONALLY attest that the”kick back” charge is appropriate and the accusations are true! I can also attest that the accusation of writing scripts for narcotics are true ( I know this for a FACT!). I do NOT believe that pain meds are prescribed as needed by most physicians, but, our government is responsible for that BECAUSE of doctors like Kain Kumar who prescribe for a price instead of an actual need (That’s a whole other conversation that I could go on and on about!). Unfortunately, he will probably walk away from this unscathed as he ALWAYS has in the past (you can look on the medical board website to see his past charges). I feel sorry for anyone that is still under his control!
Sjgranai says
I know how liberating it feels to finally be able to speak up. I hope it helps your healing process.
Joanne Fern says
If you can attest to these charges are true. You should be on the stand testifying against him…
The medical profession has gone to the insurance companies overcharging you for medical insurance and then overcharging the patients with their copayments or deductibles…
Sharlote says
I would not hesitate for a minute if asked to testify!
Tanya says
I don’t believe it. Dr. Kumar is the best cardiologist around, very professional, sharp, and compassionate.
Stinger says
Wrong Kumar. You are thinking of Dr. A. Kumar, an excellent cardiologist and NOT the subject of this article.
Deb says
Dr. Kain Kumar should be held accountable for all of the things he did. I worked with his Palmdale office on a professional level for 8 years. All of the accusations are true.
LindaL.Hawkins says
I hope you will testify against him then so he will lose his medical license and spend some time. My cousins believe he is responsible for my Aunts death (their mother).
John says
A of people jump to conclusions abiut his prescribing pain meds. It seems like if anyone sees a Dr wrote someone for pain pills hes just supporting an addict. You should all be ashamed the only people who knows wgats going on is the Dr and patient mind your own buisness.
Sandra says
He would write controlled substance prescriptions if you paid him a cash payment. He didn’t even verify if you had a real medical problem or were just a drug addict. I hated his scripts at my pharmacy. Refused to fill alto of them.
Lisa says
When he treated me. He was very professional ordered what was needed. He was an excellent Dr and does know what he is doing when he orders extra test or prescribes his medication. He helped alot of people
Debi says
He saved my mom’s life after she got MRS while at Palmdale Hospital. She needed home health care – they saved many trips of her having to go to the Dr for weekly checkups. I am Thankful for this Dr!!!
Tina castleberry says
Dr Kumar was my Dr for over 12 yrs he treated me good in the time I was with him I had in home care they helped me a lot with how to do stuff I was there many times when someone was yelling because he would not give them more pain pills everyone wants to make money but with me he took good care of me and my deceased husband
crystal says
A majority of fraud in Medi-care/Medi-cal, is committed by Dr’s.
Tim Scott says
A huge majority of waste cost/care giver profit isn’t technically fraud. My dad was in the hospital recovering from abdominal surgery. Every time we showed up to visit he was out for some sort of tests. Old man, just had surgery, no one can argue with a doctor ordering almost any sort of test “as a precaution.” And of course since none of these tests involved a dime out of dad’s pocket there was never any argument from him.
Expenses that doubled, maybe tripled the cost of the admittedly necessary surgery? Yes. Intentional profiteering? Absolutely. But not fraud in any legal sense, unfortunately.